Pro-Duterte group accuses Bello of refusing to help OFW, corruption
A pro-Duterte organization has accused Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III of corruption.
Interviewed on Dobol B sa News TV, Alie Dizon, secretary general of Kilusang Pagbabago National Movement for Change, said they have "documented" evidence against Bello.
"Meron kaming ebidensiya na siya (Bello) mismo ang kasabwat," Dizon said, accusing Bello of refusing to help an OFW who left her five-month-old baby in Al Khobar, Saudi Arabia.
She said the OFW was seeking assistance from the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) but was instead banned from the department's offices and even cursed by Bello.
Worse, she said Bello asked for P1.5 million from the OFW's recruitment agency.
In a press conference in Manila, the OFW said it was Bello who introduced her to the recruitment agency which she refused to name.
“Nag-email ako kay Secretary Bello, tumatawag ako sa kanya at nagte-text kami. Sabi niya, ‘Sige hayaan mo, hahanap tayo ng paraan para matulungan ka.’ Sabi niya, 'May isang agency na tutulong sa ‘yo,'” she said.
The OFW later learned that the agency had a problem with DOLE and Bello told her that he will resolve it.
“Itong agency nagkaproblema. Ang sabi niya aayusin ang problema nila,” she said.
When the OFW returned to the country four months ago, she went to the office of Bello to thank him for helping her and she also asked for the status of the recruitment agency.
She said Bello again assured her that he will help the recruitment agency with its problem.
The OFW said that for almost two months, she followed up with the DOLE the status of the agency, which has been ordered closed, hoping that when it is opened, it will help her get her baby from Saudi Arabia.
“Para makauwi ‘yung anak na andun. Kung mabuksan sila e sila ang magpapauwi sa anak ko. Last na usap namin pinatawag ako sa opisina, andun 'yung isang assistant secretary, ‘yung may-ari ng agency. Pinagalitan ako. Hindi ko na alam ang gagawin ko kasi na-ban na ako sa DOLE,” she said.
“Namomroblema ako sa anak ko. Saan na ako hihingi ng tulong? Hindi ako fixer at hindi ko kilala itong agency na ito. Si Secretary Bello ang nagpakilala sa amin. May text message ako na ebidensiya na siya ang nagpakilala sa amin,” she added.
Dizon said the OFW’s problem now is her baby left in the care of another OFW in Saudi Arabia who is due to return to the country.
“‘Yung nag-aalaga ng baby niya, finished contract na. Wala nang mapag-iiwanan ‘yung baby,” she said.
Dizon said Ambassador Rey Catapang has vowed to help bring the baby to the Philippines.
Not true, says Bello
In a separate interview on Dobol B sa News TV, Bello denied the accusation and instead challenged Dizon to a lie-detector test.
"Wala [akong hinihinging pera]. Kung gusto ng Alie na 'yan, we undergo lie-detector test. Sabay kami," he said.
Bello said the OFW came to the DOLE office not to seek assistance for her baby but to follow up on the legal case being faced by the recruitment agency that helped her return to the Philippines.
"Nagfa-follow up ng kaso sa office. Sabi ko, bawal 'yun. Dapat pabayaan 'yung kaso na umusad," Bello said, stressing that DOLE does not entertain follow-ups on pending legal cases of recruitment firms.
"She never approached me about the baby. Ang pinupunta niya sa amin ay 'yung agency na tumulong sa kanya [makauwi]," Bello said of the OFW.
He said the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) canceled the recruitment agency's accreditation after it received report that it was involved in the recruitment of underage women.
Challenge accepted
Dizon accepted Bello’s challenged to undergo a lie detector test and dared him that they should do it together.
“Naghamon kayo kanina na mag lie detector test. Sabay tayo, ora mismo kahit anong oras. Sabi niyo ilalabas niyo CCTV. Ilabas niyo,” she said. —With a report from Amita Legaspi/KBK/KG, GMA News
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