DOLE forms panel to probe ‘abusive’ PHL attaché in HK

The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) has formed a fact-finding committee to look into the alleged abusive behavior of a Philippine labor attaché assigned in Hong Kong toward an overseas Filipino worker (OFW) there. In a statement issued Saturday, DOLE secretary Rosalinda Baldoz directed the committee to conduct an investigation on the allegations of Filipina domestic helper Agnes Tenorio, who complained that she was subjected to verbal abuse by labor attaché Romulo Salud. DOLE’s action came almost two weeks after the incident was bared to the media following a press conference in Hong Kong by migrants’ group United Filipinos in Hong Kong (UNIFIL). Baldoz said the fact-finding committee shall submit to her a report on the incident three days after it has concluded its probe. The composition of the committee, however, was not indicated in the press statement, and it was unclear if the department gave the committee a deadline for its investigation. "Labor attache Salud will be required to submit himself to the investigation to explain his side. That is part of the due process," Baldoz said. Baldoz said her department is taking the allegations "very seriously," and vowed to treat future complaints against any DOLE official or employee in the same manner. "We will act on complaints with dispatch, fairness, and transparency in accordance with the governance reforms initiated by President Benigno Aquino III. We will ensure that DOLE officials and personnel abide by ethical standards for excellence in public service," she said. Tenorio's story Tenorio reportedly sought help from the Philippine Consulate General (PCG) there after her employer illegally terminated her contract, barely two hours after she arrived in Hong Kong. Confused about her options, Tenorio initially said she wanted to return to the Philippines, and Salud immediately agreed without advising her of her rights, according to UNIFIL and the Mission for Migrant Workers. However, Tenorio belatedly learned from other OFWs that she could file a case of illegal termination of contract against her employer and make a claim for her unpaid wages with the HK labor department, said UNIFIL. She reportedly went back to see Salud, who then reportedly scolded her for changing her mind. Salud had earlier apologized for his words, saying it was a “wake-up call" for him, and that he did not intend to hurt Tenorio’s feelings. Rally vs Salud As this developed, OFWs in Hong Kong, including Tenorio herself, staged a rally in front of the PCG office on Sunday to reiterate their demand to recall Salud from his post. "Each day that Romulo Salud remains in his position is an insult to Agnes Tenorio and an injustice to all OFWs who have experienced rudeness from and neglect by Philippine officials abroad. No OFW should again be made victim of his arrogance and irresponsibility," said UNIFIL secretary general Eman Villanueva in a separate statement. He likewise scored the DOLE for belatedly acting on the incident, saying that almost two weeks have already passed and the department has yet to inform them of the status of Tenorio’s case, and contact her to offer assistance. Sluggish move "For such an urgent and important concern, the action of the DOLE is sluggish. Thousands have signed for Salud’s recall and even more have expressed discontent with how officials abroad conduct themselves when they deal with OFWs. We call on the DOLE to not let us OFWs wait any longer," Villanueva maintained. As of posting time, the recording of the alleged conversation between Tenorio and Salud, uploaded on the video sharing site YouTube, has already breached 120,000 views almost two weeks after it was uploaded. With some 100,000 workers deployed there, Hong Kong was the third top destination for OFWs in 2009, according to government records. A special administrative region of China, it is also the top destination for Filipino domestic helpers, with about 25,000 helpers deployed there last year. - KBK, GMANews.TV