DFA announces hotlines for 'sexploitation' complaints

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Thursday announced hotlines where overseas Filipino workers can report incidents of "sexploitation."

DFA spokesman Raul Hernandez announced the hotlines — mobile, landline, and email — on his Twitter account Thursday afternoon.

"Any complaint re sexual abuses committed in Philippine embassy or consulate, pls call 0928-8363756 / (632)834-4955 or email to contact@dfa.gov.ph," he said.

Rep. Bello's expose

On Tuesday, Rep. Walden Bello linked some Philippine officials to the supposed exploitation of distressed OFWs in the Philippine shelter in Amman.

Bello, chairman of the House committee on overseas workers' affairs, said three Philippine embassy and labor officials in the Middle East have been accused of sexually abusing (OFWs) in exchange for repatriation.

These alleged cases of exploitation were uncovered when Bello's committee investigated the reported "sex-for-flight" activities where overseas Pinays were allegedly offered repatriation by officials in exchange for sex.

On GMA News TV on Thursday, Bello revealed that the sources of his allegations were DFA and labor department officials in Manila, some of whom held senior positions.

However, Bello also admitted that he has yet to talk to any victims of the alleged overseas sex rings.

Recall of envoys

On Thursday, Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert Del Rosario on Thursday said he was initially unaware of reports of prostitution rings allegedly operated by Philippine embassy staffers, despite purported knowledge of senior foreign officials that nefarious practices had been going on.

Del Rosario had ordered eight more Philippine envoys to the Middle East to come home for consultations amid accusations of sex abuse committed by embassy staff and officers against distressed Filipina workers in the region.

Foreign Affairs spokesman Raul Hernandez said the participation of the envoys from Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Oman, United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Egypt, Libya and Lebanon will enable the department to address thoroughly the issue on the alleged sex-related offenses.

Del Rosario earlier ordered Charge d’Affaires Nestor Padalhan (Syria), Ambassador Olivia Palala (Jordan) and Charge d’Affaires Raul Dado (Kuwait) to return to Manila to shed light on allegations by party-list Rep. Walden Bello that some of their staff are allegedly engaged in so-called “sex-for-fly” scheme.

Also asked to return to the home office are those labor officers and an embassy staff who have been named by Bello as the main perpetrators of sexual abuse on Filipino workers. - VVP, GMA News

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