‘Labor exec’s suspension for coverup not enough’

MANILA, Philippines - Labor advocacy group Blas Ople Policy Center and Training Institute yesterday asked the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) to impose a stiffer penalty on the labor attaché accused of covering up a rape try on a migrant worker in Saudi Arabia.

According to Center president Susan Ople, DOLE’s decision to impose a one-month suspension without pay on Adam Musa, formerly assigned in Al-Khobar, is an “insult to all OFWs (overseas Filipino workers).”

“The offense was far greater than a simple delay in officially reporting the incident to his bosses,” she noted in statement.

 Worker Grace Sales had complained in August 2012 that Musa’s driver Jose Casicas had attempted to rape her in Al-Khobar.  The official had reported this to the embassy and DOLE two months later.

An investigation team recommended the filing of gross neglect of duty charges against Musa but DOLE had decided to impose the month-long suspension instead, citing his 25 years of service and it being his first offense.

 â€œThe decision seemed to be lopsided, and failed to take into account the trauma suffered by the OFW complainant who decided to run
away from the embassy shelter the day after she was almost raped,” Ople said.

“In failing to help Grace as a distressed OFW and victim of an attempted rape, he may be, in effect, an accessory to the crime and this merits a much graver punishment,” she added.