Baldoz upholds suspension of exec in sex-for-flight scheme

MANILA, Philippines - Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz has upheld the suspension of former labor attaché to Jordan Mario Antonio, who was linked to the alleged sex-for-flight scheme involving Filipina workers in the Middle East.

“I already dismissed his petition and he came to inform me that he would no longer appeal my decision,” she said.

A notice of suspension has already been forwarded to the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) head office, Baldoz said.

Antonio’s four-month suspension will take effect starting Feb. 1, OWWA administrator Carmelita Dimzon said.

Earlier, Antonio filed before the Office of the Labor Secretary a motion seeking to reduce his four-month suspension to only a month.

Baldoz said the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) may come out before the end of the month with the decision on the complaint against former labor attaché to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia Adam Musa and assistant labor attaché Mario Villafuerte.

Both Musa and Villafuerte were also accused of engaging distressed workers in sex-for-flight.

Three distressed workers have accused Villafuerte of sexual harassment and forcing them to engage in sex in exchange for plane tickets to Manila.

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

Baldoz said the DOLE is still awaiting the results of the investigation and the recommendation of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) on the alleged existence of large-scale human trafficking involving embassy and labor officials.

“We are checking the names who were mentioned, but we will wait for the records from the NBI,” she said.

Baldoz said DOLE would evaluate the NBI report to determine if administrative complaints can be filed against labor officials allegedly involved in human trafficking.

“We will determine if there is sufficient evidence, but for now we will not be creating a special investigation team and will just wait for the report of the NBI,” she said.