Palau orders probe on 'lapses' of RP embassy

KOROR, Palau - President Tommy Remengesau Jr has ordered probe into allegations that the Philippine Embassy in Palau has been over-stepping on its duties, ignoring local labor regulations in helping supposedly abused Filipino contract workers.

Remengesau ordered presidential chief of staff Billy Kuartei to clarify with Philippine Ambassador Ramoncito Marino reports that the embassy has been rescuing "abused" Filipino workers without consulting the employers, or the Division of Labor.

“Check with the Philippine Embassy and discuss this with the ambassador. Find a solution on how best to solve this. I understand that the embassy has a job to do but there are procedures here that have to be followed," the chief executive said during his regular press conference last Wednesday.

Palau Sen. Alfonso Diaz had told Remengesau that the Philippine Embassy allegedly has been cuddling “runaways" who left their employers because of labor malpractices such as non-payment of wages and benefits and physical abuse.

Diaz also alleged that embassy personnel have been going to job sites, forcibly taking “abused" workers to the embassy offices in Koror without the consent of the bosses.

“These practices are becoming quite often," the senator said on air in the press conference last Wednesday.

He said employers came to him complaining about “abusive" practices of Philippine Embassy personnel, and that embassy staff members did not inform the employers of the whereabouts of the “rescued" workers.

The senator also said that the Division of Labor was not informed of alleged unfair practices, depriving the office the chance to mediate in alleged labor disputes.

Reacting to the senator’s complaints, Philippine Charge d’ Affaires J. Anthony Reyes said that the Embassy “followed" procedures and “notified pertinent authorities" when they acted on labor complaints from Filipino workers.

He, however, admitted that in “extreme" cases like physical or sexual abuse, or when workers got death threats, the embassy skipped labor procedures and took the laborers into their custody.

Kuartei has yet to formally meet with Philippine Embassy officials to discuss the issue.- Joan Dairo, GMANews.TV

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