Congen Elmer Cato is cleared in illegal recruitment allegations in Milan
By Cristina DC Pastor
One of the developments in the Feb 13 hearing of the Senate Committee on Migrant Workers was that it cleared the name of Consul General Elmer Cato in Milan as far as profiting financially from alleged illegal recruitment.
Cato was previously head of the Philippine Consulate in New York.
No less than Foreign Affairs Undersecretary for Migrant Workers Affairs Eduardo de Vega said, “There was no evidence he made money.”
Echoed an official of Department of Migrant Workers: “Sa aming… walang ebidensiya na siya ay sangkot sa katiwalian,”
The committee is headed by Senator Raffy Tulfo.
Senator Alan Peter Cayetano, with his mad dog style of questioning accused the Daily Tribune of engaging in a “demolition job” against Cato. He said the newspaper continued to attack the diplomat accusing him of “dereliction of duty and corruption for supposedly sitting on their complaints” without attempting to get his side of the story or to speak with his superiors.
Cato has filed a cyber libel case against the newspaper and the three migrant workers who gave them an interview for what he believed were defamatory statements. The paper denied any suggestion of a “demolition job.”
Cato said the Daily Tribune and the three supposed victims of Alpha Assistenza recruitment company who gave interviews seeming to accuse him of not doing anything about their complaints. He described the actions he did as head of the consulate, including reporting the actions of “patronatos” to Italian authorities. He asserted the consulate was “not sleeping on the job and that the actions we took since the first complaint was brought to our attention five months ago have resulted in the filing of 94 cases of aggravated fraud against those involved.”
When asked by Senator Risa Hontiveros what kind of relationship he had with Alpha Assistenza recruitment company, Cato said the company was among those that responded when the consulate organized businesses and travel agencies into one community organization in Milan in Italy.
It was learned during the committee hearing on February 7 that Alpha Assistenza co-CEOs Krizelle Respicio and Frederick Dutaro have fled to Saudi Arabia since December 2023. It is not known if that is their final destination or if they are on their way to another country. The committee also learned the Philippines has no extradition treaty with Riyadh.
Alpha Assistenza has been accused of selling fake work visas to Italy and collecting large amounts of money. At least 400 people have fallen victims, according to the investigation by the Senate committee.
Committee member Hontiveros asked Cato if he could withdraw the defamation lawsuit against a woman, a recruitment victim, who cried during the Senate hearing. He said he was willing to consider dropping the case if the woman would issue a statement taking back her accusations.
Tulfo said Cato could proceed with his case if he continued to believe in its merits. But he warned he would provide the victims a lawyer who would represent them in court against Cato’s charges.
