They never learn, do they?
After the case of the San Francisco consul, where his mother in law was charged with involuntary servitude for exploiting and not paying their household help comes this case of no less than Ambassador Lauro Baja who represented the Philippines to the United Nations
NEW YORK — AMBASSADOR Lauro Liboon Baja Jr., who headed the Philippine Mission to the United Nations from 2003 to 2007, is one of four defendants in a civil complaint alleging trafficking, forced labor, peonage and racketeering.
The case was filed on June 24 before Judge Victor Marrero of the New York Southern District Court. The co-accused are the ambassador’s wife Norma Castro Baja, his daughter Maria Elizabeth Baja Facundo and the Baja-owned Labaire International Travel Inc.
The complaint was filed by 39-year-old Marichu Suarez Baoanan through lawyers Aaron Mendelsohn of Troutman Sanders and Ivy O. Suriyopas of the Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund.
I’d like to see how they are going to “manage” the situation.
P.S. Moral of the story. Sure, you can probably do illegal stuff in the U.S. But remember, that it ain’t the Philippines. They will eventually catch you.
Edit:
Baja denies all the allegations, stating that he paid the maid $200 a month.
Baja also denied that Baoanan was given a measly salary, saying that he had papers to show that she was given $200 a month and that she remitted the money to her family back home.
Hmmm. I don’t think $200 fulfills the minimum wage requirement under federal law. Let’s say at that time the minimum wage was $5.15 an hour. Shouldn’t the maid be given at least $1,000 a month to meet minimum wage requirements? Unless diplomats are exempt from paying minimum wage required by the host country.
I might be wrong. Let’s see what the American justice system has to say about the case.
8 Comments
July 7, 2008 at 5:18 am
this is sooo bad. filipinos exploiting other pinoys. its nuts.
July 7, 2008 at 11:59 am
It happens. Even in the U.S. More than you think possible.
July 7, 2008 at 2:47 pm
You know, when I saw “Liboon Baja” my slightly dyslexic mind actually read “baboon.” Go figure.
July 8, 2008 at 12:07 pm
Hey there Amee,
It’s been a long time! I hope you are well.
My old pc crashed so I lost your email addy. I’d like
to share a story that started over 100 years ago, the condensed version
of course! It involves involuntary servitude of one of our own.
As far as the above…Such abuse , aminado pa sa $200. I am guessing the lady had more to complain about apart from the slave pay. Baboon? Indeed.
July 8, 2008 at 12:42 pm
I watched the news last night and Baja was being interviewed. He said they send the “maid’s” family $1,200 a month while she kept the $200. If they did say that, then the early Inquirer news items failed to mention the $1,200 part.
July 8, 2008 at 10:39 pm
I wrote the news story that your blogsite quotes.
There’s no $1,200 except in Baja’s story.
The civil suit actually states that the “maid” got a total of $100 for three months.
Watch the follow-up!!!
July 9, 2008 at 12:39 am
Pls visit http://ugnayan.blogspot.com/2008/07/justice-for-marichu-end-trafficking-and.html
July 9, 2008 at 1:28 am
Hi Ninotchka.
Thanks for the clarification. And thank you for dropping by my blog.
Baja mentioned the $1,200 amount + $200 during his interview on GMA 7 news. Both he and his wife came across as nice, decent people who have been falsely accused. They conducted the interview at their poolside of their residence.
The news report also stated that the Dept. of Foreign Affairs has no jurisdiction over Baja since he’s retired.