In a new proposal, Senate Robin Padilla wants to toughen penalties for foreign diplomats and overseas employers who sexually assault overseas Filipino workers (OFWs).
After DMW Secretary Susan “Toots” Ople recalled a decade-old case of an OFW who was sexually harassed by an ambassador in Kuwait, the neophyte lawmaker made the statement.
“Nag-retire na po iyong ambassador. Nakuha lang po namin iyong desisyon na pumapabor po doon sa ating kasambahay last month. So ang desisyon po, may fine iyong ambassador. Fine lang po,”says Ople in a meeting at the Senate Panel on Migrant Workers.
The non-government organization managed by Ople even hired a lawyer to ensure that justice is served for the harassed Filipina. This happened before the case was forwarded to the Department of Foreign Affairs.
Padilla was angered by the incident, stating that there is certainly a need for stricter punishment to halt the activities of these abusers.
“Sana magkaroon po tayo talaga ng ngipin sa mga ganitong pangyayari dahil ang hirap pong tanggapin talaga. Nahihirapan akong tanggapin. Ambassador ka, ikaw ang tatay doon sa lugar na iyon. Unang una, nasa shelter pa po iyong tao,” Senator Padilla said.
Furthermore, Padilla also raised that it is also possible to hold the ambassador accountable for his wrongdoings.
“Kung buhay pa po iyong kaso, baka pwedeng habulin pa po natin,” Padilla added.
Furthermore, Ople stated that their employees are trained to be gender sensitive. She also added the need to review and further expand the anti-sexual harassment law, which should cover diplomats and other overseas personnel in case they commit a sexual offense.
“Basta po Filipino na personnel ng gobyerno natin abroad, dapat po covered ng batas,” Ople said.
Source Inquirer
