Ex-OFW bolsters attempted rape charges vs labor attaché

MANILA, Philippines - A former overseas Filipino worker (OFW) told the Senate yesterday that assistant labor attaché Antonio Villafuerte was at the Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO) in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia when a distressed Filipina accused him of trying to rape her.

As the Senate Blue Ribbon committee resumed its probe into the sex-for-flight scam, Mario Karaan testified that  he drove Villafuerte and the victim known as Michelle to the POLO from Bahay Kalinga early in the morning.

While washing the dishes, Karaan said he  witnessed from the POLO’s kitchen how Villafuerte tried to force himself on Michelle, whom the labor official first kissed on the face, he added.

Karaan said he saw Michelle trying to ward off Villafuerte’s attacks, from a see-through window panel in the pantry adjacent to the room where the attack occurred.

Karaan also claimed seeing Villafuerte trying to drag Michelle to another room.

Karaan said he did errands at the POLO unit in Riyadh after running away from his employer.

He had to beg for extra money from fellow distressed workers to be able to save enough money to fly home, he added.

During the Senate hearing, Villafuerte insisted that he was not at the POLO  in Riyadh at the time Michelle accused him of trying to rape her.

“I was on my way to Bahay Kalinga then,” he said. “I was not at the area where the incident supposedly happened.”

Villafuerte reiterated many times that he was not at the POLO in Riyadh at that time.

He was at the Bahay Kalinga welfare center, about three kilometers away, to accompany other OFWs going back to the Philippines, he added.

Sen. Jinggoy Estrada had called Karaan to testify before the Blue Ribbon committee.

Responding to Villafuerte’s defense, Estrada said: “I am neither a judge nor a lawyer, but the statements of witnesses here are more credible than your answer.”

Another witness, Adelaida Ramos, said Michelle tried to seduce Villafuerte, and that another victim was not raped but had sexual relations with her employer.

However, Estrada said Ramos was merely repeating hearsay  during the inquiry.

At the start of the hearing, Labor Undersecretary Ciriaco Lagunsad told the Senate committee Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz has approved the filing of administrative charges for gross neglect of duty against Labor Attaché Adam Musa, and sexual harassment against Villafuerte, who will also  face a separate case of simple negligence.