By Perfecto Raymundo
MANILA, (PNA) — The National Bureau of Investigation Wednesday recommended the filing of criminal complaints against an official of the Dept. of Labor and Employment implicated in the “sex-for-flight” scheme.
In the final report of the NBI submitted to the Dept. of Justice, it recommended filing complaints for attempted rape and three counts of abuses against chastity against a male Assistant Labor Attache assigned in the Embassy of the Philippines to the Middle East.
The NBI said this was because of the respondent official’s alleged commission of sexual harassment on three distressed female Overseas Filipino Workers who were seeking assistance from the Philippine Embassy.
It also recommended the filing of complaints for attempted rape and abuse against chastity against a local hire who served as a driver of the respondent labor attache.
The NBI investigation stemmed from the revelation of a “sex-for-flight” scheme wherein the OFWs who were seeking assistance from the Philippine Embassy to the Middle East were sexually abused in exchange for the grant of official assistance, including the processing of their travel documents and giving of free plane tickets for travel back to the Philippines.
Aside from the criminal complaints, the NBI also recommended the filing of administrative charges against the respondent Assistant Labor Attache who was accused of rape, as well as the Labor Attache who hired the service of the respondent driver.
The final NBI report was submitted to Prosecutor General Claro A. Arellano for the conduct of preliminary investigation against the respondent officials.
The report was also submitted to Labor Secretary Rosalinda D. Baldoz for appropriate action on the aspect of the administrative charges.