Two lawyers from the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration central office in Manila met with provincial Commission on Human Rights investigator Jesus Cañete, and Love Joy Anino, representative of the complaining jobseekers in Dumaguete City, recently.

The lawyers, whose names were not disclosed, were accompanied by POEA-7 regional director Evelia Durato, to the closed-door meeting where they were apprised of the controversy involving the two heads of Public Employment Services Office: Grace Jamio of PESO Lapu-lapu City in Cebu province, and Ramon Benedicto of Negros Oriental. Several job applicants have complained against the two, claiming that they completed six-week training in Korean language, only to find out that no jobs await them in South Korea.

Cañete briefed the POEA officials of the CHR's procedure in attending to complaints, saying the Commission can act on complaints motu proprio, and without the presence of complainants, unlike the Philippine National Police and the National Bureau of Investigation.

The POEA officials assured the CHR and the victims that the office is willing to extend assistance to them. They also requested for copies of the affidavits filed with the CHR.

Cañete said he is waiting for the comment of Benedicto, who was implicated in the counter-affidavit of Jamio, who said that she came to Negros Oriental upon the invitation of Benedicto.

As to the P8,500 paid by each of the applicants to AB Learning Center, the POEA officials told Cañete that the money might be reimbursed.*JG

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