| News:
Tarongoy freed, Gloria tries to cover-up scandal
 Migrante
expressed its joy over the return of OFW Robert Tarongoy -
after more than 8 months of being held hostage by Iraqi rebels.
"Robert's
release is certainly ecstatic news for his family. Many Filipinos
empathized with the family over the past seven months and
many also offered prayers and support to urge the Arroyo administration
to exhaust all means for Robert's freedom," Migrante
Sectoral Party Chairperson Connie Bragas-Regalado said.
For its part, Migrante
circulated an internet petition for Robert that gathered more
than 400 signatures from individuals and organizations around
the world. The alliance of overseas Filipino groups' campaign
for Robert included countless forums and activities across
the Philippines and amongst its members in different
countries.
An accountant from
Davao, Robert, 31 years old, left the Philippines on July
23, 2004. About a month later, he crossed into Baghdad from
Qatar to work for the Saudi Arabia Trading Company, which
caters food for the Iraqi military.
"Given the
worsening economic crisis at home, it's inevitable that many
are pushed into risking their lives in warzones in a bid to
earn a decent living for their families," said Bragas-Regalado,
noting that the Arroyo administration's "deployment ban"
to Iraq is ineffective unless accompanied by policies that
offer Filipino workers decent jobs in the Philippines.
Robert, his wife
Ivy Grace and embattled Pres. Macapagal-Arroyo Robert hugs
his mother Isabelita on his arrival in Manila. "We also
take this opportunity to reiterate our call that the Arroyo
administration must withdraw its support of the US' 'war on
terror' immediately - otherwise, the possibility of other
OFWs hostaged, like Angelo dela Cruz and Robert Tarongoy,
are high," she said.
Bragas-Regalado
added that, "while we rejoice, we also remember the countless
other OFWs who suffered, and continue to be hit by a range
of human rights violations - while the Arroyo administration
remains criminally negligent about their plight. In fact,
Arroyo has again used Tarongoy's homecoming in attempts to
cover up the raging wiretapping scandal."
Bragas-Regalado
said the concrete experiences of OFWs and their families with
Gloria over the past four years serves as the strong basis
for Migrante's call to oust Gloria - especially in the wake
of the massive fraud and deceit she committed in the past
elections.#
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