DOJ orders filing of criminal raps vs. respondents in ‘sex-for-flight’ scheme

Department of Justice. Photo courtesy of doj.gov.ph

MANILA — The Department of Justice (DOJ) on Wednesday ordered the filing of criminal charges against a labor attache of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) and a former employee of the Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO) implicated in the “sex-for-flight” scandal.

The DOJ, however, did not identified the victim/s in compliance with the “Rape Victim Assistance Law” which provides that the names of those involved in the rape case should not be made public to protect their privacy.

In a resolution, the DOJ ordered the filing of charges against Riyadh Assistant Labor Attache Antonio Villafuerte and Jose Casicas, a former employee of the POLO.

The DOJ recommended the filing of two counts of abuses against chastity against Villafuerte.

The said crime under Article 245 of the Revised Penal Code (RPC) pertains to sexual advances committed by a public officer against a woman.

The case against Villafuerte stemmed from the complaint filed by an overseas Filipino worker (OFW).

Meanwhile, a case for acts of lasciviousness was also ordered filed against Casicas, driver of Labor Attache Adam Musa, after the DOJ gave weight to the sworn statement of the complainant that she was hugged, kissed and touched maliciously by Casicas.

Earlier, the DOJ dismissed the two separate complaints filed by two other OFWs against Villafuerte.

The first complaint was dismissed due to the failure of the complainant to appear in the preliminary investigation, while the second one was dismissed for lack of probable cause.