Filipina ‘maltreated’ by labor attaché’s wife facing extortion complaint — Bello
MANILA, Philippines — An overseas Filipina who claimed she was maltreated by the wife of a labor attaché in Jordan is facing a complaint for extortion after allegedly receiving money in exchange for not posting the video of the alleged maltreatment on social media, Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III said Wednesday.
Bello said he had ordered labor attaché Jainal Rasul Jr. to write a statement explaining what really happened after Honey Lyn Baquiran alleged in a video shared on Facebook over the weekend that Rasul’s wife beat her up as she accused her of having an affair with the diplomat.
READ: Labor attaché rapped over OFW beating
Bello said Rasul explained that his wife and Baquiran only had a “heated discussion.”
Rasul added that both parties settled the issue after the incident, but the next day, the Jordanian boyfriend of Baquiran allegedly called him and demanded $2,000 in exchange for not posting the video of the alleged maltreatment on social media.
Rasul said he could not afford to pay $2,000, so he only agreed to give only $500.
“He [Rasul] agreed to pay only $500 because according to him he could not afford the $2000—reason for which nagkaroon ng delivery although it became an entrapment incident,” said Bello.
“When the $500 was being delivered to the OFW, she was caught in the act of receiving the $500 by the member of the police force of Oman, Jordan, and for which she was detained and charged for extortion,” the Labor Secretary added.
Bello said he was informed on Tuesday that Baquiran had already left Jordan but the case against her would continue once she is caught.
“She was given provisional liberty upon payment of bail. Even the boyfriend was also detained. I was informed by our labor attaché na sumibat ‘yung ating kababayan na si Miss Baquiran (that Miss Baquiran had already left),” Bello added.
The Labor Secretary said he had already requested to have a copy of the Jordan police case against Baquiran and the testimony of witnesses that she and her boyfriend had indeed demanded $2,000 from Rasul.
