The Department of Foreign Affairs and the Department of Labor and Employment risk getting a one-peso budget for 2014 if they fail to resolve allegations that diplomats in the Middle East force Filipinas into prostitution in exchange for a ticket home.
Senate President Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada said Thursday that the government must get to the bottom of the alleged “sex-for-flight” scheme that sells distressed overseas Filipino workers for sex.
Estrada, chairman of congressional committees on labor and overseas workers affairs, said consular officials found to be involved in the ring should be removed from office, imprisoned, and barred from ever working in government.
With Congress set to deliberate on the proposed budget for 2014 in the coming months, Estrada said he would work to have the budgets of both departments reduced to one peso each unless they act on the allegations. Both departments are conducting separate investigations.
Akbayan party-list Representative Walden Bello, chairman of the House commitee on overseas workers affairs, has accused acting Philippine Overseas Labor Office chief Mario Antonio and others of being part of the prostitution ring.
Antonio has denied the allegation, blaming illegal recruitment and placement agencies for starting the rumor. He said his office may have become the target of agencies that traffic OFWs into Jordan.
Reader Interactions