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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider DFA begins probe of embassy staff in Damascus for possible abuse

DFA begins probe of embassy staff in Damascus for possible abuse

Published Jan 25, 2021 06:40 pm

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Monday announced it has “administratively investigated” certain personnel of the Philippine Embassy in Damascus following a Washington Post article detailing the abuse, rape, and imprisonment of Filipina workers in Syria.

(MANILA BULLETIN FILE PHOTO)

Apart from the probe, the DFA said it has deployed a human rights lawyer to further look into the allegations of poor treatment of Filipino victims while under the care of the Filipino Workers Resource Center (FWRA) at the Philippine Embassy in war-torn Syria.

While dismissing the Washington Post article as an “old issue with inaccuracies,” DFA Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr., however, admitted it is not an excuse for their failure to protect Filipinos abroad, which is the department’s chief role.

“Oh hell. I will wring the necks of those in the Philippine Embassy in Damascus who failed to report this,” Locsin said about the Washington Post story published on Sunday (Monday in Manila). 

Since most of the Filipinos in the center are victims of trafficking and are facing fines for being in Syria illegally, the DFA said it has been negotiating with ward’s employers for their respective exit visas, and with the Syrian government for other requirements such as payment of visa fees, clearances residence visa penalties, social security clearance fees, and court fees.

According to the DFA, three of the 15 Filipinos in the center were repatriated in December 2020 while the remaining 12 are scheduled for repatriation this month. 

The Washington Post wrote that dozens of Filipina women who were recruited to work in the United Arab have been trafficked to Syria to work as household workers or maids. These Filipinos at times were reportedly subjected to sexual attacks by their employers and denied the salaries they were promised.

The US-based newspaper said they conducted interviews with at least 17 women over Facebook Messenger.

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