Government to assist victims of ‘sex-for-fly’
scheme, says Palace
Malacanang made an assurance on Saturday that
the government is ready to extend assistance to overseas Filipino workers
(OFWs) who reportedly fell victim to a “sex-for-fly” scheme allegedly arranged
by embassy personnel in the Middle East.
As the government starts its investigation,
Deputy Presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said in a radio interview over
dzRB Radyo ng Bayan that the Department of Foreign Affairs has already
contacted OFWs who are willing to come forward and join the investigation.
“Nakipag-ugnayan na ang DFA sa kanila. I
understand that they have already met with Secretary del Rosario and handa
naman tayong mag-provide kung anong assistance ang kanilang kailangan relative
to the investigation that is on-going,” Valte said.
“Of course, sinabi ni Secretary del Rosario sa
kanila na ang mga identities nila siyempre, will remain confidential until such
time na kailangan na silang iharap doon sa kanilang mga inaakusahan.”
The DFA has already invited its consuls general
and ambassadors in the Middle East to come home to take part in the inquiry.
The Palace official also assured the public that
the ongoing investigation will be fair and straightforward and everything will
be based on evidence presented.
“At kung makita, base doon sa ebidensya, na
talagang dapat merong maparusahan or meron may sala ay hindi tayo
mag-aatubiling ibaba ang karampatang parusa sa kanila,” she said.
Akbayan party-list Rep. Walden Bello disclosed
last week the alleged sex-for-fly scheme in the Middle East victimizing
distressed OFWs. The legislator urged President Aquino to form a presidential
investigating committee to look into the allegations.
The Department of Labor and Employment (Dole)
and the DFA are conducting separate probes into the said allegations. PND (as)
Government wants Filipino families to be
prepared for emergencies
Malacanang asked Filipino families to take a
look at their disaster preparedness plan so that they can respond well to
emergencies particularly as the typhoon season starts.
In a radio interview Saturday over dzRB Radyo ng
Bayan, Deputy Presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said the current thrust
of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) is to
carry out an aggressive information campaign to notify families about important
preparedness plan.
“We appeal to, at least to the families who are
listening, to the individuals who are listening, to review your family’s
disaster preparedness plan, kung kumpleto ang mga emergency kits ninyo sa bahay
para hindi tayo nagugulat kapag nagkakaroon ng sakuna,” Valte said.
“Going into the rainy season, this will be very
important. We appeal to everybody to review your family’s own emergency plan
para lagi tayong handa,” she added.
In an interview last week, Valte said the
government continues to adhere with its zero-casualty policy as the typhoons
start to enter the country.
Valte said the President has instructed
government agencies to prioritize the welfare of the most vulnerable during
times of calamities.
The Department of Social Welfare and
Development, Department of the Interior and Local Government and the NDRRMC
have been coordinating with one another to prepare for the onset of the typhoon
season, Valte said.
They are working on pro-active measures or
protocols that will be followed whenever a typhoon enters the Philippine area
of responsibility, she added. PND (as)
