OFW in love with ‘predator’ Kim?

MANILA, Philippines – His name is Kim Guro, the Filipino embassy staff in Syria that Akbayan Rep Walden Bello referred to as “Predator One.” Bello divulged his nickname in a press conference on Tuesday, June 18, and told reporters his surname on Thursday. Guro is expected to return to the country soon to face investigation. 

Correcting earlier media reports —including Rappler’s — Bello said Guro is not engaged in the alleged “sex-for-flight” scheme. What he did wrong was he violated the code of conduct for employees assigned to diplomatic posts, when he was caught in January in an “intimate act” with an overseas worker at the poolside of the embassy shelter. 

Diplomatic rules prohibit employees from fraternizing with distressed OFWs, according to Bello.

But the girl herself sees nothing wrong with it. She said they were in love.

“She gave an affidavit. The affidavit basically said that she got together with him out of love and that people shouldn’t censor that or something to that effect,” Bello said.

“Mr Kim said he was just comforting her. That’s why they were in this compromising situation. He was actually comforting her raw,” Bello added. 

What was the intimate act? “It could have been kissing, it could have been whatever. I refuse to speculate but it was described as an intimate act — an intimate act by the poolside. This was the way it was described to us,” Bello said.

The girl is still in Syria, Foreign Secretary Albert Del Rosario also told him during their meeting on Wednesday, June 19.

‘Habit of making girlfriends out of OFWs’

In an advisory Monday, June 17, members of the media were told the press conference was about Bello’s findings on the alleged “sex-for-flight” scheme. Bello later explained that his exposé referred to other schemes he discovered during his probe. He is the chairman of the House committee on overseas workers’ affairs.

“The way it was described to me is this man has a a habit of making girlfriends out of distressed OFWs, which is against the rules,” Bello told Rappler when asked for more details about Kim.

Aside from the January 1 incident, Guro supposedly had relationships with 4 other OFWs. He is a member of the Department of Foreign Affairs’ Augmentation Team at the embassy in Damascus.

“The January 1 incident was but the latest of several violations of the rule by Predator One since embassy personnel claim he had engaged previously in intimate relationships with at least 4 distressed OFWs,” Bello said during the press conference.

“It was a violation of their rules against fraternatization between embassy personnel and distressed OFWs. There is a power relationship there that could be exploited,” Bello later told Rappler.

Bello said Del Rosario only knew about the other 4 incidents from the lawmaker.

Arabic skill too important

To punish him, there was a recommendation to bring him home, Bello said, quoting his own sources. But this was supposedly rejected because “his Arabic skills are needed.”

“The decision to bring him back was overturned because of this need for his Arabic training, especially in a time of crisis,” Bello said.

Instead, he was made to attend modules on gender sensitivity and required to secure a certification that he completed it. It’s a “tap on the wrist,” which Bello said was unacceptable.

Aside from Kim, Bello exposed two other government officials in the Middle East as sexual “predators.”

He accused Jordan-based assistant labor attaché Mario Antonio and Kuwait-based local hire Blas Marquez of running “prostituting rings” in their respective posts.

Antonio has denied the allegation and vowed to submit himself to a full investigation. Marquez has been suspended.

READ: Labor official denies prostituting OFWs

“I know [they should be considered] innocent until proven guilty. But as far as I’m concerned evidence shows they’re guilty,” Bello said.

“I really hope that the investigation on both agencies will proceed to criminal prosecution,” he added.— Rappler.com