Filipino cruise ship worker loses job over Valentine’s Day video

• Filipino seafarer Romeo Samonte lost his cruise ship job after US authorities labeled a video of him kissing his 3-year-old son as child po&nography
• Samonte said the video was taken on Valentine’s Day and insisted, “This is my son,” while defending himself before the Senate committee on migrant workers
• US authorities seized his phone for a month, deleted the video, and terminated his employment, forcing him to work as a taxi driver in the Philippines
• The Department of Migrant Workers found that some Filipino seafarers accused of similar offenses were “not randomly selected” by US Customs and Border Protection

Upon his return to the US, Samonte was stopped at the airport and accused of possessing child po&nography material. “How can that be child po&nography material? This is my son,” he said.

To clear his name, Samonte granted US authorities access to his email and social media accounts. His cellphone was also seized for a month, and the contentious video was deleted before it was returned to him.

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With his employment terminated, Samonte has since been working as a taxi driver in the Philippines to support his family. Still, he expressed a desire to return to his former job, even i it meant being assigned in Asia or working as a dishwasher.

Samonte’s case is among several involving Filipino seafarers deported from the US over alleged possession of child po&nography materials.

However, an investigation by the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) found that some of those accused were "not randomly selected” by the US Customs and Border Protection, suggesting that the screenings may not have been entirely impartial.

The incident has sparked concern over potential injustices faced by overseas Filipino workers in similar circumstances.

News, photos, or videos that arouse the interest of netizens would often go viral on social media, due to the attention netizens give them. These viral posts appeal to the emotions of netizens, and in rare cases, this could also happen to ordinary people, making them very relatable stories that people could easily understand and relate in their lives.

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In other news, a 60-year-old Okayama teacher was fired for working part-time at a convenience store, violating Japan’s strict ban on secondary jobs for public school teachers, Bombo Radyo reported. The school principal confirmed the violation after personally visiting the store on the teacher’s rest day. The teacher admitted taking the job in November 2023 to supplement her reduced salary after being rehired post-retirement. The case sparked online debate over Japan’s prohibition on side jobs, with critics questioning its fairness for honorable, off-duty work.

Still in other news, the parents of two of the students injured by falling debris in Quezon City have issued a statement detailing their sons' conditions and calling for accountability. One son is in critical condition and requires surgery, while the other sustained injuries and is traumatized. The families are requesting an expedited investigation and plan to pursue legal remedies against those deemed negligent. The parents expressed gratitude for the support received and acknowledged the assistance of Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte and other local officials.

Source: KAMI.com.gh