News RELEASE
2 March 2004
Reference: Maita Santiago, Secretary General - 0919-3332803

DFA officials prolong misery of stranded OFWs, charges Migrante

Relatives of OFWs in distress today joined an alliance of overseas Filipino groups in a demonstration in front of the Department of Foreign Affairs.

"By not acting swiftly on the complaints of the OFWs and their relatives, DFA officials are guilty of prolonging their misery," said Maita Santiago, Migrante International Secretary-General during the rally organized by Migrante International this morning in Pasay City.

"I'm here because every day that passes is another day in hell for my daughter. For as long as she remains with her abusive employer, I know her life is in danger," said Nanay Lea Esplanada at the rally.

In early February, Nanay Lea and the families of other migrants in distress trooped to the DFA for a dialogue with Undersecretary Jose Brilliantes. After presenting the plight of their loved ones, they were assured steps would be taken to bring home their relatives.

"But it's now almost a month and still nothing. Philippine officials in Lebanon (responsible for Syria) haven't even seen my daughter," said Nanay Lea.

During the dialogue, Nanay Lea said her daughter and another Filipino co-worker were maltreated and that their lives were being threatened. She also explained that unless embassy officials act quickly, they may have a harder time locating her daughter because Charmaine's employer was threatening to move them to a different house.

"And that's exactly what happened. Charmaine is now working for a different employer and for the past few weeks, her relatives haven't heard from her. This is in contrast to the steady stream of text messages Charmaine used to send home," said Maita Santiago, Migrante International Secretary-General.

Along with Nanay Lea, some of the other OFWs highlighted during the February dialogue at the DFA include: Emily Bugarin (DH in Syria), Marcelina Bautista (DH in Syria), Jennifer Ferrer (DH in Syria, name in passport is Noemi Cadjun), Mercedita Openia (illegal recruitment victims in Singapore), and Pinky Rose Gilos (DH in Kuwait).

"While their cases vary a bit with regards to their specific circumstances, they all need to be repatriated because they are being abused by their employers or they are victims of illegal recruiters," said Santiago.

"The DFA must act now. Especially in the cases of the domestic helpers in Syria who continue to be physically and mentally abused by their employers," she added.

"It's maddening that inspite of the fact that DFA officials in the Philippines and abroad are aware of the maltreatment experienced by these OFWs, they do little to bring them home. If anything happens to these migrants, it will be as if President Gloria herself put the nail in their coffins," concluded Santiago.#