Official in ‘sex-for-flight’ scheme wants lower penalty

MANILA, Philippines - A labor official accused of involvement in “sex-for-flight” schemes victimizing overseas workers wants to lower the penalty imposed on him.

Former Jordan labor attaché Mario Antonio sought the reduction of his four-month suspension without pay, Department of Labor and Employment Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz said yesterday.

“He (Antonio) did not question our findings, but only asked for the lowering of the penalty to a month in the motion for reconsideration he filed earlier,” she said.

Baldoz said Antonio maintained that if he violated certain regulations as a public officer, he had no malice and only acted in good faith.

Antonio was suspended for using vulgar and indecent language when talking to distressed workers reportedly victimized by the scheme. He was also found guilty of watching pornographic materials using his office-issued laptop.

Baldoz said the penalty of suspension cannot be immediately enforced because Antonio filed a motion for reconsideration. She will decide on Antonio’s motion in January.

The DOLE chief said she will soon come out with the decision on the complaint against former Riyadh labor attaché Adam Musa, who was also accused in the sex-for-flight scheme.

She added that the decision against assistant labor attaché Mario Villafuerte will come out much later. Three distressed workers accused Villafuerte of forcing them to engage in sex in exchange for plane tickets to return to Manila.

The special team tasked to investigate the allegations, however, failed to find evidence to prove the existence of the sex-for-flight scheme.