Labor officials accused of exploiting OFWs in alleged "sex-for-repatriation" scheme

Lira Dalangin-Fernandez of InterAksyon.com reports that three labor officials assigned in the Middle East have been named by Akbayan party-list Representative Walden Bello in a scheme "where they allegedly offer free repatriation to stranded or distressed female overseas Filipino workers in exchange for sexual favors."

According to the report, Bello identified the "three predators" in a news conference "as a certain Mr. Kim, who is based in Damascus, Syria; Assistant Labor Attache Mario Antonio of Amman, Jordan; and Blas Marquez, an officer of the Philippine Overseas Labor Office in Kuwait." Bello, who is the chairperson of the committee on overseas workers affairs in the House of Representatives, said the official nicknamed "Mr. Kim" was engaged "in sexually abusing OFWs in exchange for their flight home away" from Syria while Antonio and Marquez, respectively, "exploit OFWs at the shelter by making them engage in sex-for-hire business."

The lawmaker added that "several embassy staff" have filed formal complaints against the three officials "as early as 2009."

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