Filipino expat returns from South Korea to face rape charges

Manila: A Filipino worker returned from South Korea with Filipino investigators to face charges of raping his teenage niece in the Philippines, before he began working abroad, a senior official has said.

The OFW, whose name was not released, was escorted by agents of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) when he arrived at Pasay City’s Ninoy Aquino International Airport on board Asiana Air Flight OZ-705 (from Pusan) early on Thursday morning, said Daniel Daganzo, National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Interpol chief.

The OFW, 32, had been working in South Korea for a year when the NBI put him on the watch-list for the alleged crime, leading to his arrest by the South Korean Interpol, Daaganzo said.

He will not spend Christmas with his family in Cauayan, Isabela, in northern Luzon, Daganzo said, adding the OFW will face trial for the charges.

This case should make OFWs realise that they cannot hide from Philippine law enforcement for crimes they have committed, Daganzo said.

The OFW managed to get an overseas job before he was officially prevented from leaving the Philippines for his alleged crime, he said.

The suspected rapist denies the charges filed against him. If convicted, he will face a lifetime imprisonment, which is equivalent to 40 years.

The labour department has not released the number of OFWs who were brought home by Philippine law enforcement officials for crimes committed while in the Philippines.

The Philippine government also extends legal assistance to OFWs who commit crimes while working abroad.

There are 10 million OFWs based worldwide.

The OFWs have been regularly sending an estimated $25 billion to their relatives in the Philippines every year. The amount keeps the Philippine economy afloat.