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“What is the matter with Philippine diplomatic personnel in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia – Ambassador Bahnarim Guinomla and Welfare Officer Angel Borja, Jr. – with regard to the repatriation of 16 stranded OFWs?”
Thus queried the MIGRANTE Sectoral Party, the biggest partylist organization of OFWs and their families, on the plight of 16 OFWs who went on hunger strike in December 2003.
“The Department of Foreign Affairs continues to extend snail-paced assistance to overseas Filipino workers in distress in Saudi Arabia. We hope that the delay is immediately remedied. We hope that the continuing delaying tactics of Amb. Guinomla and WelOf Borja is not to gain pogi points from -- and for – Pres. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, ” said MIGRANTE Sectoral Party Vice Chairperson John Monterona.
MIGRANTE said the 16 stranded workers were subjected to ill treatment by Philippine diplomatic officials in Riyadh, who viciously terminated their hunger strike last December.
“The stranded workers, who ran away from abusive employers, were shackled and escorted to a hospital by Saudi police via express orders from the Philippine Embassy. They were later released. All they were pleading for through the hunger strike was for their immediate repatriation that the DFA could easily do when it musters the political will to take action,” Monterona averred.
According to MIGRANTE-Saudi Arabia, the 16 striking overseas Filipino workers have received recommendation letters from the Riyadh Governorate, which will facilitate their early repatriation. The sealed letters will be given to officials at the Riyadh deportation center, where the workers will surrender and stay briefly before their departure.
“The problem is WelOf Borja wants the 16 OFWs to write letters seeking his assistance before he makes the necessary arrangements for air tickets while the workers’ travel documents are processed. He is now further delaying their repatriation. Why does Borja set an additional requirement for a task that is part of his list of job description? This is the height of hypocrisy and credit-grabbing,” Monterona charged.
The Philippine embassy, MIGRANTE claims, is also not doing enough for 70 male and female workers currently stranded in Riyadh. MIGRANTE said that a large number of female workers are stranded at an embassy-run shelter without access to community leaders. These workers have complained of maltreatment, working longer hours without extra wages, non-payment of salaries, and physical abuse. #
CONTACT ADDRESS:
Migrante Sectoral Party
migparty@tri-isys.com
National Office: 115-B Kamuning Road,
Quezon City, Philippines |
MIGRANTE Saudi Arabia Condemns Arrest of Leaders of Filipino Migrant Organizations
