The Philippines is investigating a Filipino diplomat who has been charged with human trafficking in Canada for allegedly exploiting her nanny, a foreign ministry spokesman said on Saturday.
“The Department of Foreign Affairs takes very seriously any allegations of misconduct of its employees,” spokesman Charles Jose said, adding that it is cooperating with Canadian authorities through the Philippine embassy in Ottawa.
Canadian federal police announced Friday the filing of human-trafficking charges against Buenaflor Cruz, a former cultural officer at the embassy, and her husband, Robert.
Robert Cruz was also charged with threatening bodily harm and mischief.
The charges stemmed from third-party complaints that the couple was exploiting a 26-year-old nanny they brought into Canada legally as a domestic worker.
Police alleged that the couple exploited the woman for financial and material benefits and held her by withholding or destroying her documents from July 2009 to December last year.
The investigation was launched in December when the nanny was also rescued.
Mr. Jose said Buenaflor Cruz has been reassigned to Manila as part of the department’s normal rotation.
