Epstein Files Reveal Filipino Workers in Image Cleanup Scheme
Newly released documents from the Jeffrey Epstein case have exposed how the convicted sex offender employed Filipino workers both as household staff and through outsourced reputation management services to rehabilitate his public image following his 2008 conviction.
Philippine Agency Hired for Digital Cleanup
According to emails found in the Epstein files database, the disgraced financier worked with Al Seckel, believed to be connected to convicted trafficker Ghislaine Maxwell's family, to outsource reputation management to a Philippine-based agency.
In a December 7, 2010 email, Seckel reported progress to Epstein: "Google suggests has gotten rid of two negatives... jeffrey epstein jail and one jeffrey epstein pedophile.... another thing I've had the Philippines work on since day one."
The operation successfully manipulated Wikipedia entries, with Seckel noting in a December 15, 2010 email: "Wikipedia was an important victory, as it will always be at the top of the search engine results. Now the headlines do not mention convicted sex offender or pedophile. Instead, Philanthropic work, Epstein Foundation, promotion of Scientists."
Filipino Household Staff Supported by Epstein
Beyond digital manipulation, the files reveal Epstein's employment of several Filipino workers as household staff across his estates. Jojo and Jun-lyn Fontanilla worked as housekeepers, while Merwin de la Cruz served as a caretaker at the New York property on East 71st Street.
The emails show Epstein's apparent generosity toward his Filipino employees, providing cash advances of $2,000 for vacation trips to the Philippines and covering travel expenses for family visits. In 2015, Merwin thanked Epstein for funding his vacation trip home.
A cleaner identified as Tes or Tess also expressed gratitude for Epstein's financial support for her trip to visit her mother in the Philippines.
Complex Legacy of Employment
The documents present a complicated picture of Epstein's relationship with Filipino workers. While he appeared generous as an employer, providing financial support for family visits and personal needs, these same workers unknowingly became part of his broader strategy to rehabilitate his image after his sex offense conviction.
One incident in 2017 showed how Filipino staff became inadvertently involved in Epstein's legal troubles. Merwin de la Cruz was approached by someone attempting to serve legal papers at the New York residence, an encounter that was immediately reported to Epstein's accountant.
The revelation highlights how Epstein strategically utilized Filipino labor both domestically and professionally, leveraging the country's skilled workforce for household management while exploiting its digital services sector for reputation rehabilitation.
These findings add another dimension to understanding how Epstein operated his network, showing his calculated use of Filipino workers across multiple aspects of his post-conviction life while maintaining the facade of a benevolent employer.