PRESS STATEMENT
22 December 2003
"The Philippine diplomatic post is no longer
a sanctuary for Filipinos and the officials of
the Philippine Embassy in Riyadh should be recalled
from their posts because of the shameless way
the hunger strike of 'stranded' overseas Filipino
workers (OFW's) was effectively frustrated."
Thus declared an enraged A. Mangampo-Ociones,
Chairperson of the Saudi Arabia Chapter of the
MIGRANTE Sectoral Party as the 'stranded' OFWs
on hunger strike was turned over to Saudi Police
authorities on the night of December 21.
"These officials have the dignity of dogs
and the utility of rags," Mangampo-Ociones
explained further as text messages proliferated
in Riyadh as early as 10 p.m. last night that
the OFWs on hunger strike were dispersed "peacefully."
"Their action is as shameful as the government
of Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo who laid down today,
a red-carpet welcome for OFW's to cover-up for
its neglect of 'stranded' and undocumented OFWs
all over the world, it's raid on the coffers of
the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA)
and the abandonment of government services and
benefits for the OFWs through the OWWA Omnibus
Policies."
Yesterday, the stranded OFWs requested for immediate
medical attention as some of them felt they needed
to check on their health after 8 days of hunger
strike.
At around 8:45 p.m., the Saudi Diplomatic Quarters
Police Force swooped inside the Chancery and forcibly
arrested and shackled the 16 stranded OFWs, in
full view of Minister Mariano Dumia and Vice Consuls
Adrian Cruz and Jun Israel who simply passed them
by, ignoring the whole fiasco.
"All this time, Labor Attache Manuel Roldan
and Minister Mariano Dumia were telling us that
the 16 were only being escorted to the Hospital
after they requested for a medical check-up and
will be brought again to the Embassy," Mangampo-Ociones
narrated.
In Shemaisy Hospital, Minister Dumia, together
with Case Officer Abdullah Umpa and Welfare Staff
Benjie Bujanaid divided them into four groups
and paraded them in shackles only to be shooed
away because apparently they did not bring any
money for the supposed medical check-up.
The medical check-up would cost SR100 each.
They were then brought to the Headquarters of
the Saudi Diplomatic Quarters Police Force and
were asked to sign a document in Arabic, which,
loosely translated, states that "they accept
that their problem is between them and their employers
and that they will not 'disturb' the Philippine
Embassy again."
The Saudis later told them to come back in the
morning promising to call their employers to check
if they would allow them to be repatriated.
Shut out from the Embassy, the group braved the
6ºC night temperature and managed to seek
assistance from MIGRANTE members.
"When we first talked to this particular
group, we did not believe the allegations that
there are only two options for stranded OFWs being
laid-out by government officials: to use the so-called
'back-door' - the deportation racket through Jeddah,
or to legally volunteer at the Immigration Center
in Riyadh," averred Mangampo-Ociones further.
In both options, 'stranded' OFWs will be detained
for a few days, to give way to confirmation or
negotiations with the employers, which may last
for up to two weeks.
"Instead of putting up an effective mechanism
to defend the rights of the Filipino workers in
Court and to prevent the exploitation and abuse
by employers, these officials would rather fold
their knees and bring the OFWs in distress to
another set of indignity - arrest, detention and
deportation," argued Mangampo-Ociones.
"This is how these lame-duck officials treat
Filipinos with valid grievances. They do not deserve
to be trusted with their position and should be
recalled immediately," Mangampo-Ociones concluded.
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