Bello dares accusers to prove graft charges

Labour Secretary Silvestre Bello is unfazed by allegations of corruption hurled against him, saying his conscience is clear.

“If they have the evidence, they can go ahead and sue me,” Bello said.

He was reacting to allegations of corruption filed against him and former Labour Undersecretary Dominador Say before the Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC). The PACC is investigating Say who was reportedly sacked by President Rodrigo Duterte for having committed graft and corruption.

Monalie U Dizon, who claimed to be the secretarygeneral of the Kilusang Pagbabago National Movement for Change, filed the complaint against Bello and Say.

“Information passed to me by reliable sources and documentary evidence suggests that the two officials are in cahoots and connived to commit graft and corruption within the( labour) department ,” said Dizon in her 15-page complaint-affidavit.

Dizon claimed that her “whistleblower” – Azizza Salim, owner of recruitment agency Azizza International – shelled out P6.8mn “in exchange for Say’s reversal of the cancellation order made by Philippine Overseas Employment Administration on the recruitment license of Azizza Salim.”

Salim claimed that Say received the money through Vanessa “Ness” Josue. She did not elaborate.

According to Dizon, Azizza presented evidence, including her sworn statement, allegedly showing Bello’s participation in the extortion case.

“I realised that I can no longer bear the crackdown and harassment on us by Usec Say and definitely with the connivance of Secretary Bello, hence, it is about time that I should heed the call of President Duterte to report corruption in government. I believe that the administration of Secretary Bello is the most corrupt administration in the history of DOLE,” Salim said in her statement.

Salim claimed that Bello knew from the start what Say was doing because he allowed the latter to sign on his behalf. During his stint as labour undersecretary, Say was also the acting POEA administrator.

Dizon said Bello’s participation in extortion activities was evident in his issuance of Administrative Order 241 which informed POEA officials that applications and renewal of licenses for landbased or sea-based recruitment agencies must only be approved by the office of the labour secretary.