Jinggoy wants to wrap up ‘sex-for-flight’ probe

After almost eight months without hearings on the issue, Senator Jinggoy Estrada on Friday called on the Senate to wrap up its probe and release its recommendations on the alleged "sex-for-flight" scheme.

In a statement, Estrada asked Senator Teofisto Guingona III, blue ribbon committee chairman, to decide if further hearings are needed concerning the alleged scheme, which supposedly victimized female overseas Filipino workers (OFWs).

“I would like to call the attention of the Blue Ribbon Committee to continue the hearings on the sex-for-flight issue. Or if it does not have intention of pursuing the probe further, I believe we should wrap up the inquiries and release a report soon,” Estrada said Friday.

GMA News Online sent a text message to Guingona to get his statement regarding Estrada's call, but he has yet to respond as of posting time.

The Senate labor committee chaired by Estrada, together with Guingona's blue ribbon panel, held three joint hearings last year on the alleged "sex-for-flight" scheme, where distressed OFWs from the Middle East recounted sexual abuse they supposedly experienced from labor attaché Antonio Villafuerte.

During the same inquiry, Villafuerte categorically denied allegations of sexual harassment.

A Philippine Star report published on Wednesday said Villafuerte was found guilty by the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) of sexual harassment, but was only meted with a "light" penalty of reprimand.

Last August, the DOLE also recommended administrative charges against three labor officials allegedly involved in the sexual abuse of distressed OFWs in the Middle East.

In his statement, Estrada said the DOLE should have used the Senate testimonies of individuals involved in the alleged scheme to sufficiently get to the bottom of what really happened.

“Did the DOLE consider the evidence and testimonies presented before the Senate hearings before coming up with its own findings and ruling? I believe that whatever had been disclosed in the Senate proceedings could have been helpful in ferreting out the truth," he said. — Andreo Calonzo/KBK, GMA News

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