AUSTRALIA - The Philippine Embassy in Australia has recommended the immediate removal of Labor Attaché Victor Julio Ablan from office.

Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Franklin Ebdalin said the recommendation was made in early October due to Ablan’s alleged “unpaid obligations” and “deceit”.

The matter has been conveyed to the Department of Labor and Employment, the government agency which deployed Ablan to Australia in the first place.

Hushed tones
Details of the Embassy’s basis for suggesting Ablan’s recall remain sketchy, but Ebdalin confirms the Head Office in Manila has received reports Ablan has been borrowing money from the Filipino-Australian community.

In Sydney, Ablan’s alleged borrowing activities have long been discussed by Filipino-Australians in hushed tones.

ABS-CBN spoke to eight well-known community leaders from three different states who say Ablan “borrowed” or “tried to borrow” money from them between 2008 and 2009.

A leader of the Ilocano community in Australia also says “kababayans” allegedly approached her to seek advice as to how to recover the money they lent Ablan.

“It is true. I can think of at least seven people at the top of my head. It’s really embarrassing, it is,” the Ilocano community leader said.

Ablan is a scion of the politically influential Ablan clan of Ilocos Norte.

Same story, different people
The story narrated by community leaders to ABS-CBN is the same. Ablan would ask to borrow $700 and he would offer to pick up the cash at their homes or at work, refusing a check or electronic bank transfer.

However, the reasons vary slightly.

Sometimes, Ablan would allegedly borrow money because his “living allowance” from the DOLE was late.

Other times, Ablan allegedly explained he needed the money to be used as “Mobilization Funds”, or funds that would enable him to help overseas Filipino workers who live and work in isolated areas. Ablan reportedly told them the Philippine government’s funds were insufficient.

Sympathetic Filipino Community
“I was probably one of the first people he approached,” says a prominent Filipino-Australian community leader. She says Ablan borrowed $700 dollars from her soon after he assumed office in May 2008.

“He said he needed to go to Western Australia pero kulang ang perang pinadala ng gobyerno, so I lent him, not just $700 but $1,000. “

She explains why she didn’t bother to put the loan in writing. “He’s an Ablan. The Ablans are a prominent family in the Philippines so I felt I could trust him. And he’s a labor attaché. Parang mabait naman. Kung makakatulong sa mga kababayan, why not?”

One and a half years later, she says Ablan has not settled the debt.

Many initially believed the story about government sending late or insufficient funds, so they sympathized with Ablan and thought of other ways to help him.

But people started talking when he allegedly failed to settle the loans as promised.

“He said his allowance was late, so I gave him the cash and I took him to lunch,” says another Filipino-Australian who claims she lent Ablan $1,000 in January 2009.

“I found a sheet of paper and let him sign a note saying he would pay me back in two weeks. But he didn’t. One month later, no payment. Then he stopped answering my calls. When I finally got hold of him in July, I told him I knew who else he borrowed money from, and threatened to go public.” Ablan reportedly settled his debt one month later.

“He is obviously sick, “says another Filipino-Australian who claims she lent Ablan money. “Maybe he needs help. Nakaka-awa, but this has to stop.”

Rubber checks, sick leave
Ablan, who maintains an apartment in Curtin, a suburb of the Australian capital Canberra, allegedly owes his landlord thousands of dollars in unpaid rent. Real estate agent Lita McKell told ABS-CBN Ablan issued two checks totaling $4,400. Both checks bounced. McKell is considering filing a case in court.  

ABS-CBN repeatedly tried to get Ablan’s side of the story by ringing his mobile phone and sending text messages. Ablan responded by e-mail, said he was on sick leave, and offered to respond to any urgent matter by e-mail. ABS-CBN e-mailed him questions on Thursday morning, but Ablan has not responded as of this writing.

Matter ‘quite urgent’
Ebdalin says the Labor Department has been advised to make a decision on Ablan’s case “quickly, as the matter is quite urgent.”

And while the final decision rests with the DOLE, Ebdalin says the recommendation of the Philippine Embassy in Australia “carries a lot of weight,” adding “hindi naman basta basta lang gagawa ng recommendation yun ng walang basis.”