Lawmakers from the Makabayan bloc have filed a resolution calling for a congressional inquiry into reports that convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein tapped a Philippine-based team to conceal his criminal record online.
House Resolution No. 762 directs the committees on public information and women and gender equality to investigate the extent of Epstein’s network in the country, including possible local firms or individuals who may have aided his operations.
Gabriela Rep. Sarah Jane Elago, Kabataan Rep. Renee Louise Co, and ACT Teachers Rep. Antonio Tinio said the inquiry should examine allegations of media manipulation and reputation management conducted from the Philippines to shield Epstein from accountability. They urged the House to recommend stronger oversight and penalties to prevent the country from being used as a hub for exploitation and trafficking.
Documents from the U.S. Department of Justice linked Epstein to Al Seckel, who allegedly outsourced a Philippine firm to bury negative search results and promote favorable narratives. Emails from 2010 showed Seckel boasting of efforts by “our group in the Philippines” to build links and edit Wikipedia entries to emphasize Epstein’s supposed philanthropic and scientific work.
Epstein was arrested in 2019 for trafficking and abusing underage girls in the U.S. and abroad. He died in jail later that year while awaiting trial.
Epstein maintained a wide network of prominent contacts across business, royalty, politics, and academia. His ties to figures such as Donald Trump, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, Bill Clinton, and Mette-Marit, Crown Princess of Norway, have drawn controversy.
Files released under the Epstein Files Transparency Act confirmed he kept connections with numerous notable individuals. (ZIA LUNA)
