Ex-POLO driver admits giving money to settle rape charge

Three OFWs testify before the Senate investigating allegations of sexual harassment against labor and foreign affairs officials in the Middle East in this file photo. MAILA AGER/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines — A former labor office employee admitted to senators that he gave 10,000 riyals to an overseas Filipino worker to settle “their problem.”

After repeated questioning  by senators JV Ejercito and Benigno “Bam” Aquino IV, Jojo Casicas, former driver and employee of the Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO) in Saudi Arabia, finally admitted that he sacrificed three-months’ worth of pay to solve his “problem” with 28-year-old Grace Victoria  Sales or Josie who accused him of trying to rape her in March 2012 when they were left alone in the POLO office.

“Yung pagbigay ng 10,000 para iurong na yung reklamo sa akin,” Casicas said, after initially insisting that the money was to help Sales and her family.

However, Casicas maintained that he did not harass or attempt to rape Sales.

Labor attaché Adam Musa said he only helped Casicas, by facilitating the salary deduction, to keep things at peace in their office since Sales also works there as a janitress.