MANILA, Philippines – Vowing to protect migrant workers, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Tuesday, June 18, said it will investigate the sex abuse case involving 3 embassy personnel in the Middle East.

In a text message, DFA spokesman Raul Hernandez said Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario will meet on Wednesday, June 19, with the congressman who exposed the case, Akbayan Rep Walden Bello.

Del Rosario will do this “to complete the information that we have and establish a way forward in terms of investigating people.”

“Our core interest is to protect our OFWs in every instance. We are disturbed by the news reports that we are receiving regarding the sex-related offenses allegedly committed by embassy personnel,” Hernandez explained.

Bello, who denounced the suspects as “predators,” identified them as:

• Mario Antonio, the assistant labor attaché in Jordan;

• Blas Marquez, a local hire or a contractual employee of the Philippine Overseas Labor Office in Kuwait; and

• A certain “Kim,” who is a member of the Augmentation Team of the DFA at the embassy in Damascus, Syria

Bello said in a press conference on Tuesday: “Sexual abuse on our womenfolk perpetrated by their hosts in a foreign county is an awful crime. But there is something more awful, and that is their exploitation by their own compatriots in that strange land.”

The solon said his exposé is based on interviews with “unimpeachable sources” at the DFA and Department of Labor and Employment.

Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte said the government, however, has not received any formal complaint from the alleged victims. Those victimized by these alleged practices should file their complaints “because the DFA is more than willing to act on them,” Valte said. – Rappler.com