A lawyer said that the Filipina caregiver who posted videos against President Rodrigo Duterte could face passport cancellation if the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) is serious in punishing the latter.
On a Facebook post, Atty. Trixie Cruz-Angeles said that DOLE could just simply cancel the passport of Elanel Egot Ordidor also known as Linn Silawan on social media.
According to her, cancelling the passport of Ordidor would save time and the government doesn’t need to ask Taiwan to deport the Filipina caregiver who called the government ‘inutile’.
“If the DOLE is serious about sending Ms. Elanel Egot Ordidor home, it’s next step would be to file charges here in the Philippines and then have her passport canceled,” the lawyer said.
“When her passport is canceled there will be no need to request deportation, as she will no longer have a necessary travel document. MECO (Manila Economic and Cultural Office) will only have to notify the Immigrations authorities in Taiwan,” she added.
Cruz-Angeles also questioned why DOLE chose to file cyber libel charges to Ordidor that could give them a hard time to punish the OFW, citing that the President is required to personally file a complaint against the Filipina caregiver.
The lawyer suggested that instead of filing cyber libel, against the OFW, they should file ‘cyber inciting to sedition’ charges against Ordidor.
According to Art. 142 of the Revised Penal Code, circulating “scurrilous libels against the Republic of the Philippines or any of the duly constituted authorities,” can also be considered as inciting to sedition.
On April 25, DOLE asked Taiwan to deport Ordidor for her viral videos against President Duterte.
However, Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) on April 27 rejected the request of the Philippines, saying that overseas workers like Ordidor has their right protected.
“Taiwan is a sovereign, independent country where foreign workers enjoy ‘citizen treatment,’ and their rights and interests are protected by relevant laws and regulations, including freedom of speech, which should be respected by governments of all countries,” MOFA statement reads.
“No person or institution, in this case, has the right to pressure her, her employer, or broker, nor shall she be deported without consultations held between both governments,” it added.