Name corrupt POEA execs, Bello urged

The Lilac Center for Public Interest, Inc. on Wednesday urged Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello 3rd to name the officials of the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) who he alleged are profiting from corrupt activities involving the issuance of overseas employment certificates (OECs).

“In a week, Secretary Bello’s D.O. 185 suspending the application and issuance of OECs is expiring. By now, the investigative team headed by Undersecretary Bernard Olalia should have been already wrapping up its investigation. It is time the Secretary should be serious in action, not words, and name the POEA officials engaged in peddling OECs for profit,” said Lilac Center president Nicon F. Fameronag, a former DOLE undersecretary.