NGOs seek to join ‘sex-fly’ probe
NON-GOVERNMENT and migrant workers’ organizations are clamoring for inclusion in the panel that is investigating complaints that foreign affairs and labor officials assigned in the Middle East sexually exploited distressed overseas Filipino workers in exchange for their quick repatriation.
Susan Ople, president of the OFW rights advocacy group Blas F. Ople Policy Center, said a group of civil society leaders and OFW advocates will send a formal letter to Secretaries Albert del Rosario of foreign affairs and Rosalinda Baldoz of labor requesting that at least two NGO representatives and a social worker from the social welfare department be allowed to sit in the investigating body.
Ople said the group would also ask that the probe be expanded to include all forms of sexual exploitation, including sexual harassment by embassy personnel.
She said they would also propose that government formulate “a more gender-sensitive, professional and developmental approach to shelter management and OFW services.”
The Ople Center is joined in its advocacy by the Filipino Migrant Workers’ Group, LBS Recruitment Solutions, PEBA, the Philippine Migrant Rights’ Watch, and the Kabalikat ng mga OFWs.
NGOs want to be part of 'sex-for-flight' probe
MANILA – Advocates for overseas Filipino workers and a group of civil society leaders want to be included in the investigating panel tasked to probe the 'sex-for-flight' complaints against certain embassy personnel particularly in Middle East posts.
Susan Ople, head of the Blas F. Ople Policy Center, said they sent a formal letter of request addressed to the secretaries of foreign affairs and labor and employment to air the following recommendations:
- Include at least 2 NGO representatives and a social worker from the DSWD to sit in the investigative panel;
- Expand the probe to include all forms of sexual exploitation including sexual harassment by embassy personnel;
- Regardless of the outcome of the probes, for the government to formulate a more gender-sensitive, professional and developmental approach to shelter management and OFW services.
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