Press Statement – September 9, 2005
Reference: Connie Bragas-Regalado, Chairperson, 0927-2157392
 
Saving OFW hostages in Somalia and stranded workers in Saudi Arabia should be government priority
 
We have been resolute in calling Malacanang to cancel the US trip of Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo so that the funds for the said dubious trip can be used for our distressed compatriots in Somalia and Saudi Arabia.

Macapagal-Arroyo has done nothing but complete inaction on the ongoing plight of 12 overseas Filipinos being held hostage in Somalia and over 300 stranded workers without food and medicine in Saudi Arabia .
 
Macapagal-Arroyo is a stubborn and negligent president towards Filipino citizens working abroad. In a precarious situation are 12 Filipino seafarers in Kismayo , Somalia who may get killed when Somali soldiers attack their rebel hostage-takers. Also suffering from government neglect are 300 stranded workers in Saudi Arabia .

Gunmen have been holding 48 fishermen and their three fishing vessels since August 15 and have demanded $500,000 for each of the boats and their crews, media reports quoting the Taiwan Ministry of Foreign Affairs said.

While Arroyo is so eager for her United States trip to preside over the United Nations Security Council meeting from September 14 to 16, we strongly suggest that instead of this trip, the needs of 12 OFW hostages in Somalia and at least 300 stranded Filipinos roaming Saudi Arabia should be prioritized.
 
Definitely, all these distressed OFWs need food and medicine, aside from legal and other forms of assistance from the Philippine government. If this administration has funds to spend for trips of officials with questionable legitimacy like Arroyo and to send a mercy mission to the New Orleans hurricane disaster, then it should never touch the trust funds at the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) and get allocations from the national coffers to assist the OFWs in dire need of help.

Government should not stop at the identification of the twelve seafarers hostages in Somalia . Ramon de los Santos, Juner Diacan, Jimmy Gomez, Efren Nava, Melchor Mandanas, Amado Espina, Agustin Ybanes, Janit Ranido, Eduardo Monleon, Primo Galania, Rodel Tagawalo and Erwin Alminana all need to be assisted and repatriated safely.
 
Saving our distressed compatriots should be a Malacanang priority. Government should not be pre-occupied with saving Arroyo's head from efforts to impeach her. #

-------------------------
Special Feature:
The Impact of Remittances to the Philippine Economy
Paper presented at the Outrage! Forum
[read the whole article]

for more articles, click [here]