ACTS-OFW Party-list Representatives John Bertiz (left)
QUEZON CITY, Philippines – A former overseas Filipino worker filed on Thursday (October 4) an ethics complaint against ACTS-OFW Party-list Representatives John Bertiz.
Shiela Mabunga accused Bertiz of disrespecting Filipino workers abroad and having conflict of interest.
Mabunga recounted her ordeal that started in August 2014 when she was deployed to Saudi Arabia.
She said she applied as a cook but when she arrived in Saudi Arabia she was surprised to be working as a household worker. She claimed her original contract was changed under Global Asia Alliance Consultants Inc. owned by Bertiz.
Mabunga said her employers were abusive and had not paid her services.
It was not until her left arm was paralyzed from overworking that she decided to return home in August 2015 through the help of a non-government organization.
She asked help from Bertiz but to no avail.
“Fit to work ako nang umalis ng bansa. Nakakalungkot na ako ngayon ay paralisado na. Ito ba Mr. Bertiz ang sinasabi mong representative ka ng mga OFW sa Kongreso?” she said.
But Bertiz’s chief-of-staff Jun Aguilar said, “Settled na yan, why only now after so many years at Makabayan bloc pa.”
He added that the complaint should have been filed in court which is the proper forum.
“Ethics Committee is not the venue for Mabunga obviously and it has nothing to do with the agency matter because he already divested long ago if there’s a case it should be filed in a proper venue and court, not media or ethics,” he said in a statement.
Aguilar alleged that Mabunga’s move was a “coordinated attack and funded demolition” against Bertiz.
He argued that there are more pertinent issues that need to address such as human trafficking rather than focusing on Bertiz.
According to the House Committee on Ethics and Privileges, there are loopholes in Mabunga’s complaint so they are leaving it to the members of the committee on whether to accept it or not.
“Hindi ito sworn complaint,” said Atty. Amador Lanuza.
An investigation is now ongoing at the Lower House after Bertiz filed a resolution urging the lawmakers to examine the video of him in the airport incident. – Marje Pelayo (with reports from Grace Casin)
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