DOLE chief suspends ‘rude’ labor exec in Dubai

Bello said welfare officer Danilo Flores of the Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO) is under administrative suspension for alleged misconduct. (PIA file photo)

MANILA – Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Secretary Silvestre Bello III said on Saturday he has ordered the immediate suspension of a Philippine labor official assigned in Dubai involved in an incident with an overseas Filipino worker (OFW) that went viral on social media.

Bello said welfare officer Danilo Flores of the Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO) is under administrative suspension for alleged misconduct.

He admitted that he saw the Facebook post that went viral involving the POLO officer and an OFW last April 16.

“Mayroon sa Facebook kung saan ang welfare officer in Dubai, minumura nya OFW (There’s a post on Facebook where a welfare officer in Dubai was cursing an OFW). I saw it on FB. Sa halip na bigyan ng pagkain ang mga OFWs natin, aba minumura (Instead of giving food to our OFWs, he’s cursing them),” Bello said in an interview during the Laging Handa briefing.

“So immediately yesterday I ordered his suspension and investigation and immediately ordered his recall to the Philippines. The first available flight iuuwi na sya (he would be brought home),” he added.

The incident allegedly happened during the distribution of the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration’s food aid package for OFWs in Dubai and the Northern Emirates who have been displaced by the Covid-19 pandemic.

An investigation is to determine Flores’ culpability for alleged misbehavior in dealing with OFWs, Bello said.

Meanwhile, Bello assured the public of DOLE’s continuing welfare and assistance programs for OFWs.