THE Alliance of Concerned Overseas Filipino Workers (ACO-OFW), a group of overseas Filipino workers based in United Arab Emirates (UAE) has scored the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) for failing to act on their demand to investigate its current ambassador over various issues including misuse of Filipino community funds, misconduct and mismanagement of the more than 400,000 Filipino workers and their dependents in this tiny rich oil-producing country.

The leaders of the group has now sought the help on Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Rafael Seguis to expedite the investigation of UAE Ambassador Grace Relucio Princesa, whom they accused of causing demoralization and unrest among thousands of OFWs who cannot concentrate on their jobs because of some uncertainties and divisiveness among its community leaders here.

ACO-OFW has issued Seguis a copy of their demand letter to Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario over a week ago, expressing their frustrations and discontent over Princesa’s conduct even as they threatened to expose more documented anomalies if the DFA investigation is not effected immediately.

The group added that they have completed documenting two more cases against the ambassador, which include the alleged shipment of at least 18 units of personal computers to her home for personal use and the long-standing controversial Filex issue.

The PC units were reportedly solicited from the Filipino community to be used in an IT training program benefiting the Filipino workers here and other neighboring emirates while the Filex issue is about missing contributions of Filipino investors for a private school run by community members here in the capital city.

Usec. Seguis, who supervises all Philippine heads of mission abroad has reportedly received the complaint letter that alleges specifically, the misuse of Filipino community funds generated from the Independence Day and Paskuhan celebrations held there, which many believe it is the source of graft and deception, adding that “the Independence Day celebrations serves a ‘milking cow’ of corrupt community leaders in connivance with the ambassador.”

The leaders of the group who chose to remain anonymous pending DFA investigation on their complaints for fear of reprisal told The Manila Times that they also seek for the investigation on the collection of huge amounts solicited from individuals and companies and sale of raffle tickets, which they claim to have gone into the financing of expensive hotel diplomatic accommodations, receptions, food and many others.

Other priority issues that the group ACO-OFW wants the DFA to look seriously into are the “dubious” creation of the Bayanihan Council and the inefficient system in running the affairs of the Philippine Embassy in the UAE.

The OFW group leaders have made it clear to Usec. Seguis that they now possess the necessary documents and are ready to detonate more “bombs” or exposes anytime. They also vowed to come out in the open at the onset of the investigation, in the spirit of transparency and fair play.