Filipino Expats Qatar

Press Release
April 10, 2008

Arroyo Govt. effort to assist Filipino workers is usual Lip Service – Migrante ME

This is the very first time we heard from the acting Chief of the Department of Labor and OWWA Administrator Marianito Roque that repatriation is part of government’s effort to assists Filipino workers in distressed.

Mr. Roque has made the pronouncement that repatriation is part of government’s effort after his office in Manila has already received the confirmation of the flight bookings of the 62 distressed OFWs among the more than 200 who have been in the deportation centers since late quarter of last year.

Last week, it was also announced by Vice President Noli De Castro, who is also serving as Presidential Adviser for OFWs affairs, that there are a few stranded OFWs who are due for repatriation from Saudi Arabia pending confirmation of their flight bookings.

We are used to hearing series of pronouncements from the Arroyo administration that stranded OFWs will be home soon. The fact is, the Arroyo administration, DoLE and OWWA were only pressured to an effort primarily because Migrante International, Migrante ME amd Unifil-Migrante-Hong Kong and other chapters around the world have intensify its campaign for the immediate repatriation of stranded OFWs in Saudi Arabia especially those seeking refuge in Kandera Bridge in Jeddah.

Migrante immediately commenced their collective actions, launched several dialogs, picket and rallies in the DFA Main Office in Manila, issued statement of condemnation and possible filing of an appropriate case in the United Nations Commission on Human Rights Special Rapporteur for Migrant Rights against the Arroyo Administration’s continued neglect to their worsening plight; all these actions undertaken by Migrante forced the inutile Arroyo Administration to “exert an effort” as per Mr. Roque’s pronouncement, to assist Filipino workers that are in distress abroad and want to go home.

Mr. Roque’s pronouncement that repatriation is part of government’s effort, (please note: he used the term “effort” instead of “responsibility”) is like making a promise whose words are coming from his nose and not from his mouth, or to say this in appropriate way, he was forced to pronounced that repatriation is part of government’s effort so that they can claim before the very eyes of the public that Mrs. Arroyo’s administration is doing good for the protection and welfare of OFWs.

We would like to remind Mr. Roque that there are still a hundred of OFWs in the deportation center in Jeddah and as per our Migrante-Jeddah reports they are seeing few OFWs who are now in the Kandera Bridge . Again, they are runways who can’t afford anymore to stay working with their errant and abusive employers; they are the runaway OFWs who are often manhandled by their employer, who are often harassed sexually, who are often not paid for their labor, who often their being degraded. They are our fellow OFWs working as domestic helpers and constructions workers.

They are the majority of OFW population in the Middle East . Unfortunately, many of them were also abused and harassed.

Some hundred OFWs in distress are also at Philippine Embassy’s Bahay Kalinga in Riyadh , Saudi Arabia .

The above figures does not include the more than 200 OFWS in distressed in Jordan including the Domingo Sisters, who were pressured to pay for their placement and airfare costs as they were directly hired by the principal agent who is a friend to a certain Enrico Garcia and Alexander Maestrado of the Philippine Embassy’s ATN (Assistant to the Nationals) in Jordan. Worst, ATN Garcia is pressuring the Domingo sisters to pay US$1,500 plus airfare costs of Php40,000 as per their short messages sent to their father and was confirmed by Migrante ME during a short talked to one of the sisters on April 5.

There are more to add: the more than 30 OFWs in distress in Kuwait and more than 20 in Dubai , UAE including the distressed OFWs working for Princess House party organizers.

According to Mr. Nhel Morona, Migrante-UAE Secretary-General, three (3) of the OFW-victims of Princess House party organizers are now in jail. Two OFW women were accused of scratching a page in Koran, the holy bible in Islam.

And just yesterday, distressed OFW Renato Garcia was also picked up and handcuffed by Dubai Police in-front of the Philippine Consular Office after seeking assistance to a certain ATN Mendoza on a case filled against him by his employer.

To OFW Renato’s surprised after talking to Vice-Consul Mendoza and upon going out of the Consular office, Dubai Police arrived, picked and handcuffed him and he was brought to jail.

What is irking us is when Vice-Consul Mendoza and other PCG staff were informed of about the incident; they were hesitant to go out of the office to provide assistance to OFW Renato.

What made the Dubai Police knew that OFW Renato is in the PCG office that time? We are not deducting the possibility that PCG staff have tipped off the Dubai Police that OFW Renato is at the PCG Office that time, as he was properly identified by the Police and upon seeing him, they immediately picked and handcuffed him.

What maybe their motive of giving information of his whereabouts? Simply because OFW Renato’s case is under Migrante’s care. Not remote. We have had several experienced before like this.

We demand the Arroyo administration and Mr. Roque, not to exert an effort, but to perform its state responsibility of providing assistance to all OFWs in distressed and runaways in the entire Middle East . What we have mentioned above are only a few of the thousand OFWs in deportation centers, shelters and jails in the entire Middle East .

Protecting OFWs, in distress or runaways, is a state responsibility. It’s not a matter of choice to exert effort or not. But it is inherent to every government; government has an obligation to protect its people especially those who are working abroad not only to survive their own families but above all contributing much to keep its nation’s economy afloat.

But sad to say, OFW’s significant contributions in keeping the economy afloat have not been given due worth by the Arroyo administration like previous administrations by return providing to OFWs’ genuine service and programs. Instead, continued neglect and disservice to OFWs and families are still observed and in fact becoming extensive.

Worst, their US$25.0 contributions now amounting to Php10-B held in trust to the government through the OWWA have been misused and corrupted.

To Mr. Roque and to Mrs. Arroyo’s administration: Please be reminded that protecting OFWs is state responsibility. Your neglectful administration is exhausting us, OFWs and families of repeatedly reminding you of your responsibility as public servant.

Mrs. Arroyo’s administration does not deserve even a single “thank you” from OFWs and families for its effort to assist OFWs in distressed who are long been neglected and who suffered a lot under her seven years (7) in office. # # #

For reference:
John Leonard Monterona
regional coordinator
Migrante Middle East
Mobile No.: 00966 564 97 8012

Kindly find below from Nhel Morona, Migrante-UAE Secretary General regarding OFW Renato Garcia being picked and handcuffed by Dubai Police on April 7.

Mga Ka-Migrante,

Nakapanlulumo ang ibabalita ko sa inyo sa ngayon, hindi ko mapigilan ang damdamin ko sa galit. Ngayong hapon lang sa harapan mismo ng ating consulate office sa pagkalabas na pagkalabas ng pinto ng gate ng consulate natin dinampot ng police ang isa sa mga victim ng princess house (si Renato Garcia), at mismong sa tungkil ng ilong nga mga walang silbi nating opisyal dito kinuha ang ating kababayan at wala silang nagawa kahit konti at ang sabi e bukas na lang daw aasikasuhin. Nuong malaman ko iyon habang papauwi ako galing trabaho e na high blood ako at sinusubukan kong tawagan ang ATN natin dito pero sarado na ang mobile. At napag alaman ko rin na bukas ay uuwi na itong ATN natin dito, sa kasalukuyan inatasan ang vice consul dito na si Mendoza para asikasuhin ang kaso ng tatlo (tatlo na sila ngayon dahil until now hindi pa nakakalaya ang dalawa.

Mga kasama nais ko sanang humiling sa inyo ng suporta sa pagkondena sa kapabayaang ito ng ating konsulada dito sa Dubai. Pinapunta ko sina Renato duon sa consulate para humingi ng tulong para sa pagpunta sana nya sa pulis upang linisin ang kanyang pangalan sa kasong isinasangkot sa kanya, kung anu anong dahilan pa ang sinasabi sa kanila at hinihintay pa raw ang resulta ng pag aayos sa 2 bago ayusin ang kanyang kaso. At nung time na lumabas sila sa gate ng consulate bigla na lang dinampot ng pulis si Renato at nung ipaalam ng kanyang kasama ang nangyari sa mga tao sa loob ng consulate, tumagal pa ng ilang minuto bago sila nagdesisyong labasin para tignan ang nangyari. Naroon sina Vice consul Mendoza, ATN Boy Palencia at isa pang ATN official.

Until now e medyo MATAAS pa ng HIGHBLOOD ko dahil sa nangyari, kaya pasensiya na kayo kung ano ang mga sinasabi ko dito sa sulat ko. Nagtataka lang talaga ako at kahit sa haparan mismo ng ating consulado ay nagagawa nila ang ganitong pagdampot ng walang nagagawa ang mga taga consulate natin. Isa pang hindi ko lubos maisip e kung bakit alam ng mga pulis na nandun si renato sa consulate gayong wala namang nakakaalam na iba na pupunta siya duon kundi ang mga kausap lang nila sa consulate.

sana magabayan ninyo ako dito dahil umiiral ang puyos ng damdamin ko at m sure hindi ako makagawa ng maayos na desisyon.

ito lang muna
nhel morona
migrante-uae, sec-gen