PH labor attaché suspended over acts ‘inimical’ to nat’l interest

MANILA – Philippine Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Adnan Alonto has placed Labor Attaché (Labatt) Nasser Mustafa under preventive suspension over his actions branded as “inimical to the national interest”, which is to protect the rights and welfare of Filipinos abroad.

The suspension comes after a Filipino couple earlier filed sexual harassment and corruption complaints against Mustafa, who, in turn, charged the nationals with cyber libel.

“With the filing of the criminal charge, Labatt Mustafa directly violated the mandate of all Philippine government officials assigned at Foreign Service Posts to protect the welfare of Filipinos overseas,” the Embassy statement issued Wednesday read, adding Mustafa’s move may result in the imprisonment of Filipino nationals in a foreign country.

The Embassy added that Mustafa filed the criminal charge without informing the ambassador nor obtaining the approval of the Department of Foreign Affairs, which “undermined the One Country-Team Approach (OCTA)” mandated by the Migrant Workers Act of 1995.

Under OCTA, all representatives and personnel of the Philippine government posted abroad act as “one country-team with a mission under the leadership of the ambassador,” regardless of their mother agencies.

In addition, the Embassy said Mustafa also “caused confusion” among Saudi police authorities since he and the Embassy have opposing views on the filing of the criminal charge.

“Hence, Labatt Mustafa compromised the credibility of the Philippine government’s commitment to protecting its own nationals residing within the Kingdom,” it stressed.

Due to “loss of trust and confidence,” the Embassy said Alonto has decided to suspend Mustafa.

Assistant Labor Attaché Henry Tianero will serve as the Philippine Overseas Labor Office in Riyadh’s officer-in-charge pending the appointment of a new labor attaché, according to the Embassy.