Amid sex-for-flight scandal, PHL labor offices abroad set to strengthen monitoring, reporting system

Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz on Friday said even before the “sex-for-flight” scandal surfaced, the automation of foreign operations in the International Labor Affairs Bureau (ILAB) and Philippine Overseas Labor Offices (POLO) through the Foreign Labor Operations Information System (FLOIS) was already set to be implemented.

In a news release, the DOLE said the implementation of the FLOIS is a move to stengthen the monitoring and reporting system of the DOLE to ensure the security, welfare, and enforcement of rights of OFWs around the world.

FLOIS aims to make POLO transactions and processes more convenient, accessible, and transparent.

The system will be accesible to DOLE, Philippine Oversease Employment Administration (POEA), and the Oversease Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), ensuring real-time reports of all POLO transactions and stored data while considerably reducing operational expenses.

ILAB Director Rodolfo Sabulao stated that the ten posts selected for the initial implementation of the FLOIS are: Dubai and Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates; Riyadh and Jeddah, Kingdom of Sauidi Arabia; Kuwait; Milan AND Rome, Italy; Malaysia; and Singapore.

“Our government is not unaware of the many abuses suffered by our overseas workers in the foreign land where they have ventured, usually with heavy hearts, in pursuit of a more fulfilling future. It is exactly why we develop and strengthen the implementation of FLOIS,” Baldoz said.

Through the FLOIS, Baldoz hopes to curb allegations similar to the case currently faced by DOLE through close monitoring of overseas labor officers.

Sex abuse allegations

DOLE's upgrading of its online systems and databases are a further measure take by the department to prevent further abuse of those under government protection.

The other measures taken by the department are sending 13 new female labor attaches to the Middle East and returning envoys from the region to help investigate the sex abuse allegations.

Akbayan party-list Rep. Waldon on Wednesday threatened a DOLE budget cut of 25% if there is no decisive action against the personnel attached to the allegations.

Senate probe

On Thursday, three former OFWs faced a Senate probe to recount the alleged sexual abuse they experienced from a labor official in Saudi Arabia.

The Senate inquiry was called to probe the alleged "sex-for-flight" scheme in Philippine labor offices and embassies in the Middle East.
 
One of the OFWs, who identified herself as "Michelle," accused Antonio Villafuerte, a Filipino labor attache based in Riyadh, of making sexual advances to her inside of the labor office in the area last May.
 
Villafuerte, who was also present during the hearing, however, categorically denied Michelle's accusation. He said he was not in the labor office last May 18, the day the distressed OFW said the alleged sexual harassment took place.
 
Senator Teofisto Guingona III meanwhile ordered the Blue Ribbon committee secretariat to summon more witnesses in the next hearing, including an employee in the labor office in Saudi Arabia whom Michelle claimed to have seen how Villafuerte allegedly harassed her.
 
“Mahaba pa ang imbestigasyon. May iba pang testigo na kailangan marinig. May mga pinapahanap pa tayo,” Guingona said in an interview after the probe. — with reports from Rie Takumi/Andreo Calonzo/VVP, GMA News

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