Kuwait Execs in ‘Sexploitation’ Relieved

Following Akbayan Rep. Walden Bello’s allegations of sexual exploitation of female OFWs in Kuwait, a Philippine official in Kuwait allegedly involved in the exploitation was relieved from his post Wednesday amid an ongoing investigation.

GMA “News to Go” has said the official, who was not identified, refused to face media Wednesdsay morning but said he was ready to undergo investigation to clear his name.

Labor Attache David Des Dicang of Philippine Overseas Labor Office in Al Khobar said the removal of the official from his post will give way to a non-biased investigation. The News added that Consul General to Kuwait Atty. Raul Dado hopes the victims of the alleged sexual exploitation will present themselves to provide more information about the allegations.

Akbayan Rep. Walden Bello, chairman of the House committee on overseas workers’ affairs, during a press briefing on Tuesday bares the alleged sexual exploitation following his committee’s investigation over the reported “sex-for-flight” activity. Allegedly, in this activity, Pinay OFWs were offered repatriation by Philippine officials in exchange for sex.

In Tuesday’s press conference, Bello named two of three officials involved in ‘sexploitation’, saying that they were from the Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO) in Jordan and Kuwait.  The Online News, however, withheld their names on Tuesday while awaiting comments from them.

On Wednesday one of those tagged in the alleged sexploitation of workers defended himself over radio dzBB.

The News said that Mario Antonio, Philippine assistant labor attache to Jordan, has denied involvement in an alleged sex-for-flight mess, saying this could be a smear drive against him by illegal recruiters whom he crossed paths with. The News has said the surprised Antonio said he could be a target because he had defended the rights of OFWs.

In a phone interview over dzBB and broadcasted in the News, Antonio has said the allegations are not true.“Yan ay hindi makatotohanan. Yan ay siguro dala yan ng salita ng recruitment agency at trafficker sa pagtanggol natin ng mga OFW,” Antonio said.

Antonio was linked to the supposed exploitation of distressed OFWs in the Philippine shelter in Amman, Jordan.

Also in a separate interview on dzBB, Overseas Workers Welfare Administration  (OWWA)head Carmelita Dimzon attested that Antonio was pro-worker.

“Isa sa pinakamagaling na welfare officer … Wala akong narinig tungkol sa kanya. Ang narinig ko lang na complaint sa kanya, siya masyadong maka-worker at pumapanig sa worker na kinagalit minsan ng employer,” she said.

On Tuesday, Bello requested Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Secretary Albert del Rosario and Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz for the dismissal of the three along with their criminal prosecution.

Malacañang had already ordered an investigation into the matter, the News said.

Sources: gmanews.tv