Safety in numbers

There is safety in numbers. This is probably why four women who previously were afraid to come out and speak of their ordeal at the hands of unscrupulous embassy officials who sexually abused and then pimped them to foreign nationals, have agreed to tell all. No less than Sec. Albert Del Rosario of the Department of Foreign Affairs is heading the investigation into allegations of sexual abuse and prostitution by Philippine embassy officials on distressed OFWs wanting to get back home. In exchange for tickets to freedom, they were allegedly sexually abused or pimped out to foreign nationals. Not only did they slake their lustful intentions, but even made money to boot. Such cases of sexual exploitation on OFWs who get into trouble and just want to come back home have apparently been going on for a long time, and according to some sources, not confined to Philippine embassies in the Middle East! But right now, those who have come forward all suffered their respective ordeals in Saudi Arabia.

The whole scandal was revealed by Akbayan Rep. Walden Bello, when he said that he knows of several women who were abused and pimped by officials of the Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO) in embassies in Syria, Jordan and Kuwait. The victims who have come forward suffered in Saudi Arabia. So we are still awaiting the victims from the three embassies mentioned by Bello. As with any accusation, there must be an accuser, and witnesses if any, to prove beyond reasonable doubt the guilt of the accused. Otherwise it merely becomes hearsay. Hopefully, they all come out and speak. In any case, this whole mess has once again embarrassed the diplomatic corps of the country in the eyes of the world. And we are still only talking about the Middle East. We have yet to hear from OFWs who were victimized by officials from embassies in Europe and elsewhere.

Nothing is scarier than being in trouble in a foreign land. Embassies are there for the protection of its citizens, especially those distressed and in need of help. They provide refuge and relief in times when they most need it. Our OFWs are not there to be abused, maltreated, disrespected, exploited and violated by the very people entrusted to take care of them. Such acts are unacceptable, and must be punished to the full extent of the law if so proven. It is right that the officials in question be summoned back home, to face the accusations hurled against them. It is not enough for them to simply deny them and cry blackmail and demolition, as there are supposed victims speaking out. 

The official investigation has to get underway. The longer it takes for its start, the more afraid the victims will become. It has to start while the public is into the whole story. It has to commence while the people demand to know how officials can even do this, and demand justice for the victims. The people have to know if we can still trust our embassies.