Mario Antonio, a POEA official, has denied involvement in an alleged sex trade ring in the Middle East. He faced the media and read his statement but refused to answer any of the alleged charges made against him.
Mr. Antonio was reportedly sent back by the Jordanian government for alleged involvement in the sex for fly scandal. Antonio, in an interview with Kabayan Noli de Castro, says that all of these allegations are "made-up" stories by illegal recruiters. Illegal recruiters want nothing more than "recover" those OFWs who went to the Bahay Kalinga centers of POEA. Bahay Kalinga centers are houses built by POEA as temporary shelters for distressed OFWs.
Two embassy officials whose names were not published were summarily recalled as well. An in-depth probe was called by no less than DFA secretary Alberto del Rosario.
Del Rosario, a career diplomat, wants to know why this happened and who are the ones responsible for this immoral and condemnable act.
I urge Congress to make a special law punishing these kinds of criminal acts. There should be a special and more severe punishment for people doing these to their fellow Filipinos. I propose the death penalty for these kinds of crimes. The State must mete the most severe punishment for people who commit these kinds of atrocities.
A victim has courageously come out of hiding and is willing to expose the nefarious activities of these embassy officials. These officials are not Filipinos or humans---they are beasts. And you know how we treat beasts---we treat them with death.
As a former OFW myself, and knows the sufferings of my fellow compatriots who risked life, limb, love and family just to earn some monies to survive, I am militating against what others term "kalakaran". This kalakaran must stop, the ones responsible charged and hauled to jail so that the New Patriots of the New Generation will be able to see these bastards and give them the proper punishment which I cannot print here.
THESE BEASTS WILL PRAY FOR DEATH TO END THEIR DAILY SUFFERINGS BUT WE WILL DENY THEM THIS LUXURY.
Showing posts with label department of foreign affairs. Show all posts
Showing posts with label department of foreign affairs. Show all posts
Thursday, June 20, 2013
Monday, March 4, 2013
PH to Malaysia---Maximum Tolerance
At last! After nearly fourteen days on this Sabah issue, the government finally issued the very first correct statement about this issue.
DFA assistant secretary Raul Hernandez communicated to the Malaysian government its appeal for Malaysia to exercise maximum tolerance in dealing with the Kiram group. At least 26 people have died due to the on-going clashes between Malaysian security forces and a band of Filipino sympathizers of the Sultan of Sulu and North Borneo.
Hernandez's statement is the best statement so far that this government has issued. It positions the government at the middle of the confrontation between Malaysia and the Royal Army of the Sultan of Sulu. By positioning itself in the middle, the Philippine government is not risking itself too much or trying to expose its sleeve insofar as the Sabah claim is concerned. What the government is now trying to achieve is to extricate the Filipinos there in a peaceful manner while hammering out a compromise agreement with the Malaysians and the Kirams.
Communicatively, this issue started in the wrong foot and is now being deftly steered towards the right direction by the DFA.
DFA assistant secretary Raul Hernandez communicated to the Malaysian government its appeal for Malaysia to exercise maximum tolerance in dealing with the Kiram group. At least 26 people have died due to the on-going clashes between Malaysian security forces and a band of Filipino sympathizers of the Sultan of Sulu and North Borneo.
Hernandez's statement is the best statement so far that this government has issued. It positions the government at the middle of the confrontation between Malaysia and the Royal Army of the Sultan of Sulu. By positioning itself in the middle, the Philippine government is not risking itself too much or trying to expose its sleeve insofar as the Sabah claim is concerned. What the government is now trying to achieve is to extricate the Filipinos there in a peaceful manner while hammering out a compromise agreement with the Malaysians and the Kirams.
Communicatively, this issue started in the wrong foot and is now being deftly steered towards the right direction by the DFA.
Wednesday, June 9, 2010
Unrest at the Department of Foreign Affairs
Senate president Juan Ponce-Enrile is spot on---all Cabinet rank secretaries and their staff should vacate their posts right this moment. As soon as Aquino is proclaimed president by late noon today, all Cabinet secretaries will now cease from functioning legally as heads of the government agencies. They have no legal authority to sign any document, because the effectivity of their appointments will end as soon as a new president is sworn in.
Now, how about political ambassadors, appointed by Mrs. Arroyo? What would become of them?
According to the career officials of the DFA (I was once a member of the DFA, but did not continue), their appointments should also end since they are co-terminus with Mrs. Arroyo. These are:
(Romulo issued Assignment Order No. 207-10 dated April 28, 2010 for the recall to the Home Office) of Ma. Consuelo Puyat-Reyes (Santiago); Acmad Omar (Muscat); Antonio Villamor (Riyadh); Generoso Senga (Tehran); Francisco Ortigas III (Mexico); Jose Brillantes (Ottawa); Ernesto De Leon (Canberra); Orlando Mercado (ASEAN-Jakarta); Vidal Querol (Jakarta); Ramoncito Marino (Koror); Francisco Benedicto (Beijing); Noe Wong (Phnom Penh); Shirley Ho-Vicario (Port Moresby); Domingo Siazon, Jr. (Tokyo); Bienvenido Tejano (Wellington); Rigoberto Tiglao (Athens); Delia Albert (Berlin); Alejandro del Rosario (Warsaw); Manuel Antonio Teehankee (Geneva WTO); Antonio Manuel Lagdameo Jr. (London); Regina Irene Sarmiento (Prague); Mercedes Tuason (Vatican); Alexander Yano (Brunei); Cardozo Luna (The Hague); and Ana Ines De Sequera-Ugarte (Madrid).
The non-career ambassadors, Romulo and undersecretaries of the DFA who are political appointees and co-terminus with the President will all cease to hold office by June 30.
However, there's a catch.
Controversial Justice secretary Alberto Agra again was put in the spotlight for signing a very controversial opinion dated April 23, 2010 which practically violated the Constitution. Agra said that these political appointees may continue to hold office even after June 30.
This legal opinion violates the foreign service code and even the very spirit of the Charter. Political appointees are co-terminus with the appointing authority and their terms end with Arroyo.
Aquino should look closely at the problem brewing inside the Foreign Service. It is high time that the new government respects the officer corps there. The Foreign Service Officers are the highest and most professional of all the members of the government bureaucracy. It is high time for the new government to end that practice of appointing non-career officials to sensitive ambassadorial posts. The Arroyo administration really tainted this respected institution by considering ambassadorial posts as dumping ground for erring officials or as reward to ass-lickers. Time for change.
Now, how about political ambassadors, appointed by Mrs. Arroyo? What would become of them?
According to the career officials of the DFA (I was once a member of the DFA, but did not continue), their appointments should also end since they are co-terminus with Mrs. Arroyo. These are:
(Romulo issued Assignment Order No. 207-10 dated April 28, 2010 for the recall to the Home Office) of Ma. Consuelo Puyat-Reyes (Santiago); Acmad Omar (Muscat); Antonio Villamor (Riyadh); Generoso Senga (Tehran); Francisco Ortigas III (Mexico); Jose Brillantes (Ottawa); Ernesto De Leon (Canberra); Orlando Mercado (ASEAN-Jakarta); Vidal Querol (Jakarta); Ramoncito Marino (Koror); Francisco Benedicto (Beijing); Noe Wong (Phnom Penh); Shirley Ho-Vicario (Port Moresby); Domingo Siazon, Jr. (Tokyo); Bienvenido Tejano (Wellington); Rigoberto Tiglao (Athens); Delia Albert (Berlin); Alejandro del Rosario (Warsaw); Manuel Antonio Teehankee (Geneva WTO); Antonio Manuel Lagdameo Jr. (London); Regina Irene Sarmiento (Prague); Mercedes Tuason (Vatican); Alexander Yano (Brunei); Cardozo Luna (The Hague); and Ana Ines De Sequera-Ugarte (Madrid).
The non-career ambassadors, Romulo and undersecretaries of the DFA who are political appointees and co-terminus with the President will all cease to hold office by June 30.
However, there's a catch.
Controversial Justice secretary Alberto Agra again was put in the spotlight for signing a very controversial opinion dated April 23, 2010 which practically violated the Constitution. Agra said that these political appointees may continue to hold office even after June 30.
This legal opinion violates the foreign service code and even the very spirit of the Charter. Political appointees are co-terminus with the appointing authority and their terms end with Arroyo.
Aquino should look closely at the problem brewing inside the Foreign Service. It is high time that the new government respects the officer corps there. The Foreign Service Officers are the highest and most professional of all the members of the government bureaucracy. It is high time for the new government to end that practice of appointing non-career officials to sensitive ambassadorial posts. The Arroyo administration really tainted this respected institution by considering ambassadorial posts as dumping ground for erring officials or as reward to ass-lickers. Time for change.
Sunday, July 6, 2008
Villar's Truth About OFWs
Senate president and presidentiable Manny Villar is in very serious trouble. His foreign affairs and OFW adviser, Ambassador Lauro Baja is being charged for alleged human trafficking, racketeering and forced labor by a fellow Filipino.
What now, Mr. Villar? Should we be concerned, since, you said in that television commercial of yours, that we need to report those who commit human trafficking and such crimes against our Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW)?
How will we do that now when the very person you made as your adviser is himself, deeply involved in such affairs? How will you now justify your OFW campaign?
How many Bajas do you have in your circle of influence, Mr. Senate President? I'm sure you checked each and every one's background. Are you sure that every adviser has been checked out? Do you have others involved in other rackets, like jueteng, drugs, and smuggling?
More than this though, if news about Ambassador Lauro Baja is true, that’s a big blot in the eye for the Philippine foreign service. And it seems that he's not the only one involved in this kind of racket.
A few months ago, another Filipino diplomat pleaded guilty for a similar offense, that of forced labor and racketeering.
What happened to our once prestigious foreign affairs? This department has been our source of pride in the past. Many idealistic individuals like me dreamt of someday working there. I did manage to work there as head of the economic diplomacy unit of the DFA think-tank. It was a brief stint. Though entry was very competitive, I decided to go back to media, my first love.
Unlike any other government agency, the DFA seems to be the most viable and the most reputable place for one to work. It has the least record for corruption, unlike the BIR and Customs.
With this report on Baja’s and other similar incidents involving our envoys, a thorough investigation should be undertaken. This is a very serious offense which merits a total overhaul, if not, a total re-examination of the list of individuals we allow to serve our fellow Filipinos living abroad.
Baja is a career diplomat who once served the UN Security Council. What has prompted him to do such a despicable thing? Was it low pay? Was it for his retirement or pension funds?
What is happening to our society that the least corrupt government agency has been turned into a place of slave traders?
What now, Mr. Villar? Should we be concerned, since, you said in that television commercial of yours, that we need to report those who commit human trafficking and such crimes against our Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW)?
How will we do that now when the very person you made as your adviser is himself, deeply involved in such affairs? How will you now justify your OFW campaign?
How many Bajas do you have in your circle of influence, Mr. Senate President? I'm sure you checked each and every one's background. Are you sure that every adviser has been checked out? Do you have others involved in other rackets, like jueteng, drugs, and smuggling?
More than this though, if news about Ambassador Lauro Baja is true, that’s a big blot in the eye for the Philippine foreign service. And it seems that he's not the only one involved in this kind of racket.
A few months ago, another Filipino diplomat pleaded guilty for a similar offense, that of forced labor and racketeering.
What happened to our once prestigious foreign affairs? This department has been our source of pride in the past. Many idealistic individuals like me dreamt of someday working there. I did manage to work there as head of the economic diplomacy unit of the DFA think-tank. It was a brief stint. Though entry was very competitive, I decided to go back to media, my first love.
Unlike any other government agency, the DFA seems to be the most viable and the most reputable place for one to work. It has the least record for corruption, unlike the BIR and Customs.
With this report on Baja’s and other similar incidents involving our envoys, a thorough investigation should be undertaken. This is a very serious offense which merits a total overhaul, if not, a total re-examination of the list of individuals we allow to serve our fellow Filipinos living abroad.
Baja is a career diplomat who once served the UN Security Council. What has prompted him to do such a despicable thing? Was it low pay? Was it for his retirement or pension funds?
What is happening to our society that the least corrupt government agency has been turned into a place of slave traders?
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