MANILA — Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III on Tuesday challenged his critics to file a case against him if they have solid evidence to prove allegations of corruption.
Bello belied allegations hurled against him, including anomalous dealings involving the issuance of overseas Filipino worker (OFW) identification (ID) cards.
“I therefore reiterate the challenge to my detractors: Sue me, go to court if you have an iota of evidence against me,” Bello said in a press conference on Tuesday.
“We only have facts to dispute all those accusations,” he added.
Bello noted that he would bravely face the “malicious attacks” against him.
“I am not about to dignify the malicious attacks against me, but the apparent orchestrated campaign to vilify my name and that of the institution I represent necessitated that I confront these issues head on,” he said.
At the same time, the labor chief noted that the “demolition campaign” against him began early this year during the preparation for the launch of the OFW ID.
“Some groups or individuals who were interested in the project must have felt that getting rid of me was the only way they can get to hold on the project,” Bello added.
He said that these people, after failing to carry out their initial plan, are now using an issue involving the request of an OFW for the repatriation of an eight-month child from Saudi Arabia, which his detractors claimed a matter he failed to act upon.
“This is a blatant lie. What was being followed up in our office was the pending case of a recruitment agency whose license was cancelled,” Bello said.
He also questioned the timing of the surfacing of the issues being thrown at him.
“And this came amid forthcoming deliberations of the Judicial and Bar Council on the applicants for the position of Ombudsman, of which I am among the candidates,” Bello added.