NEWS| Saudi-based OFW group urges visiting VP Binay in Saudi to intercede in behalf of 8 OFWs on death row

Press Release

30 March 2011

A Filipino migrant rights group in Saudi Arabia today urges Vice President Jejomar Binay, who will be arriving in Saudi Arabia on April 1, to plead to the host government to show mercy for overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) on death row in Saudi Arabia.

John Leonard Monterona, Migrante-Middle East regional coordinator said: “As to our monitoring, there are eight (8) OFWs on death row here in Saudi Arabia.”

Among them are Don Lanuza, Rolando and Edison Gonzales, and Eduardo Arcilla -all are incarcerated in Saudi jails.

Monterona said PH govt. intercession on the cases of OFWs on death row must be in full and serious undertaking now after the execution of the 3 Filipinos in China on Wednesday.

Monterona cited the case of Don Lanuza, incarcerated in Saudi Arabia by killing an Arab national on 2000, is a case in point. “As per the latest information, the court is just awaiting the son of the aggrieved party to reach legal age so that it could decide either to accept the blood money in exchange of forgiveness or reject it in favor of execution,” he said.

“Lanuza’s case could be considered on the ‘red flag’ as the son of the aggrieved party is to reach legal age, about 2 or 3 years from now,” Monterona added.

Monterona lamented nobody knows what action the PH government had done so far in regards to efforts of saving the 8 OFWs on Saudi death row; “thus, we are urging VP Binay to intercede by bringing this to the attention of the host government since he will be in Saudi this Friday,” he continued.

Despair after the execution; campaign to save others on death row to intensify

“Worries revived like when the time Flor Contemplacion is about to be hanged in Singapore, and we can’t avoid that a feeling of despair easily conquered us today after execution of the 3 Pinoys in China,”said John Leonard Monterona, Migrante-Middle East regional coordinator.

Monterona said this is a sad, bitter reality confronting us as a nation especially if we knew there are more than 200 of them -on death row in various countries, “We will intensify our campaign to save our fellow OFWs on death row,” he averred.

“We hope that our calls for the Aquino govt. to work hard to saving the lives of other OFWs on death row must be met with all seriousness and pro-active stance on the part of the present administration,” Monterona added.

On Monday, Monterona suggested the formation of a high-level inter-agency task force that would find ways for commutation of their death sentences and eventually spare them from execution.

The Saudi-based OFW leader re-iterates his group previous calls for an intensified campaign initiated by the government, national and international in scope, involving all concerned government agencies, to prevent OFWs being victimized by international drug traffickers and syndicates.

Reference:

John Leonard Monterona

Migrante-Middle East regional coordinator

Mobile No.: 00966 535 921228

NEWS| Filipino migrant groups say final prayers for doomed Pinoy trio in China; urges Aquino to work hard saving other OFWs on death row

Press Release

30 March 2011

Filipino migrant groups say final prayers for doomed Pinoy trio in China; urges Aquino to work hard saving other OFWs on death row

“We are still praying that the execution will be halted, though we are just an hour away ‘til the scheduled execution,” thus said today by an alliance of Filipino migrants rights group Migrante-Middle East.

Various chapters of Migrante in Saudi Arabia and in the Middle East continued their prayer vigils last night that kicked off last Friday and will culminate today, still hoping that the execution of the 3 Filipinos will be halted.

“Worries revived like when the time Flor Contemplacion is about to be hanged in Singapore, and we can’t avoid that a feeling of hopelessness easily conquered us today amid the impending execution of the 3 Pinoys in China,” said John Leonard Monterona, Migrante-Middle East regional coordinator.

Monterona said this is a sad, bitter reality confronting us as a nation especially if we knew there are more than 200 of them -on death row in various countries.

“We hope that our calls for the Aquino govt. to work hard to saving the lives of other OFWs on death row must be met with all seriousness and pro-active instance on the part of the present administration,” Monterona added.

On Monday, Monterona suggested the formation of a high-level inter-agency task force that would find ways for commutation of their death sentences and eventually spare them from execution.

The Saudi-based OFW leader re-iterates his group previous calls for an intensified campaign initiated by the government, national and international in scope, involving all concerned government agencies, to prevent OFWs being victimized by international drug traffickers and syndicates.

Reference:

John Leonard Monterona

Migrante-Middle East regional coordinator

Mobile No.: 00966 535 921228

NEWS| Stranded OFW dies while awaiting repatriation

Press Release

29 March 2011

Stranded OFW dies while awaiting repatriation 

A stranded overseas Filipino worker (OFW) dies in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia while awaiting repatriation, reports received by Migrante-Middle East regional coordinator John Leonard Monterona.

Monterona identified the OFW as Jameel Macasanton, 48, from Marawi. He was rushed to King Abdul-Aziz hospital by his nephew Arafat Kamal last night but the OFW eventually passed away.

“I have spoken to Arafat over the phone this morning and he confirmed that his Uncle Jameel died last night due to kidney failure as he is diabetic,” Monterona added.

The OFW’s family in Marawi had already been informed about his sudden death.

“It was known that OFW Jameel had been undocumented since 2008 after he run away from his employer due to labor malpractices; since then, he survived looking and working from one job to another,” Monterona averred.

Arafat , his nephew, said he sought refuge last month to the Philippine Consulate General in Jeddah for repatriation.

“There are also two stranded OFWs who have suffered stroke, as per the reports we have received,” Monterona saying officers of Migrante in Jeddah are still verifying the said reports.

According to Monterona, there are still more than 600 distress and stranded OFWs seeking refuge at the Al-Mina hajj terminal in Jeddah.

“This is what we have been saying since last month, we have repeatedly called on the PH consulate and the DFA to seriously attend the stranded OFWs in Jeddah as they are living under a deplorable condition. Children have been sick and adult OFWs are coughing –all complained of no medicines provided by the PH consular officials,” Monterona added.

Monterona added because there is already a reported death among the stranded OFWs, may be this time –again may be this time, the PH consulate in Jeddah and the DFA and other concerned agencies will provide too-late-as-always services and assistance to the distress and stranded OFWs in Jeddah.

Monterona calls on the POLO-OWWA in Jeddah to arrange for the repatriation of OFW’s remains if his family desires and provide assistance to his family, regardless of his status as undocumented.

“We call on Vice President Jejomar Binay who is reported to visit Saudi Arabia on April 1, to arrange to bring all the stranded and distress OFWs including the 100+ overstaying jailed OFWs, hoping they could avail the Saudi King’s royal pardon, back home so that they could rejoin to their respective families,” Monterona ended. # # #

Reference:

John Leonard Monterona

Migrante-Middle East regional coordinator

Mobile No.: 00966 535 921 228

NEWS| Suspension of recruitment agencies for failure to provide airplane ticket to distress OFWs sought

Press Release

29 March 2011

Suspension of recruitment agencies for failure to provide airplane ticket to distress OFWs sought

Seconding to the announcement made by the Department of Labor and Employment (DoLE) requiring licensed recruitment agencies to provide airplane tickets for their deployed OFWs who are in distress and stranded in Saudi Arabia, an alliance of Filipino migrants rights group Tuesday said those recruitment agencies failed to fulfill their obligation of providing airplane tickets must be penalized or suspended.

On Thursday, the DoLE secretary issued statement saying: "The recruitment agencies that deployed the distressed OFWs must provide the tickets within 48 hours so that the OFWs can already go back to the country."

John Leonard Monterona, Migrante-Middle East regional coordinator reacts saying: “When it comes to providing services to distress OFWs like airplane ticket provision, some recruitment agencies are observe indecisive, but when it comes to imposing fees like placement and processing and other fees to prospective OFWs, they’re as fast as the tick of a clock.”

Monterona said though the airplane ticket provision for distress and stranded OFWs is clearly stated as one of the obligations of recruitment agencies to its own deployed workers based on the newly amended Migrant workers Act or RA10022 and POEA rules and regulations, this has been blatantly violated by erring recruitment agencies.

“The provision of free airplane ticket for distress OFWs had been routinely violated because the DoLE-POEA failed to honestly and strictly implement it and thereby punish or suspend erring recruitment agencies,” Monterona added.

Monterona said OFWs and their families would be more than happy to know or hear the DoLE-POEA announcing to the public that it has suspended recruitment agencies A, B, C and so, -because all failed to fulfill their obligation to their deployed OFWs - who are victims of abuse and maltreatment thus forced to run away and became distress and stranded.

Monterona said they have known that the 55 distress OFWs who have been repatriated from Jeddah, Saudi Arabia last week were not beneficiaries of free airplane tickets from their respective recruitment agencies but by the Saudi govt. which paid their airfares.

Monterona said there are still about 600 stranded and distress OFWs in Jeddah, while 120+ at the PH embassy-run Bahay Kalinga, -vainly awaiting for their repatriation- some have stayed for more than six months to 1 year.

“We call on Vice President Jejomar Binay who is reported to visit Saudi Arabia on April 1, to arrange to bring all the stranded and distress OFWs including the 100+ overstaying jailed OFWs, hoping they could avail the Saudi King’s royal pardon, back home so that they could rejoin to their respective families,” Monterona ended. # # #

Reference:

John Leonard Monterona

Migrante-Middle East regional coordinator

Mobile No.: 00966 535 921 228

NEWS| Migrant group hits embassy over slow repatriation of 70-year old sick OFW

Press Release

28 March 2011

Migrant group hits embassy over slow repatriation of 70-year old sick OFW

(Attached photo of OFW Irene Sto. Domingo, 70, taken last December 2010) 

“Disgusting to the max!” this is how a migrant rights group described the slow repatriation of a 70-year old overseas Filipino worker, who is still at the Philippine embassy-run Bahay Kalinga in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

John Leonard Monterona, Migrante-Middle East regional coordinator, said OFW Irene Sto. Domingo, 70, from Sta. Cruz, Manila arrived in Saudi Arabia sometime on 1984.

Monterona said OFW Sto. Domingo is still at the Bahay Kalinga for more than three (3) months now still awaiting her repatriation.

“She worked as a domestic helper but after several years, she was forced to run away from her abusive employer. Until then, she became an undocumented hopping from one employer to another, just to survive and send money for her family, for more than a decade in Saudi Arabia,” Monterona added.

On December 16, 2010, her friend and fellow OFW, Marcelina Calimag, who then temporarily took care of her, sought help from the officers of the Kapatiran sa Gitnang Silangan (KGS), the Riyadh-based affiliate organization of Migrante-Saudi Arabia chapter, as she was sick and too weak to work and earn a living.

“The following day, I formally endorsed her case to the attention of the Philippine Embassy concerned officials seeking to provide medical assistance to her and placed her at the embassy-run Bahay Kalinga,” Monterona added.

Monterona added he specifically requested, aside from providing her medical care as she is sick, to arrange for her immediate repatriation while she is being treated.

According to the PHL embassy officials, they are still awaiting approval from the DFA-OUMWA for authorization in issuing a ‘guarantee’ letter asked by Saudi immigration authority, and thereby allowed her to be repatriated.

Monterona said they have handled similar cases before involving sick and old OFWs, though undocumented, -but with proper representation by the PHL embassy officials with the local authorities- they have been allowed to leave Saudi Arabia immediately for ‘humanitarian consideration as they are old and sick’.

“We have asked the PHL embassy on the status of her repatriation, but its reply was very disappointing as it did not provide us any hope or even indication that she will be repatriated as soon as possible considering her frail condition being old and sick,” Monterona averred.

He calls on the DFA-OUMWA to issue, without further delay, the needed ‘guarantee’ letter as requested by the PH embassy in Riyadh in compliance to the requirement asked by the local immigration authority.

“Don’t prolong the agony of an old and sick OFW; whatever happens to her as she is under PH embassy custody, would be the sole responsibility of the latter,” Monterona warned.

"Is the Aquino govt. really cares for our OFWs in distress? -then it must be prompt directing all the concerned govt. agencies to provide assistance to distress OFWs," Monterona ended.

Reference:

John Leonard Monterona

Migrante-Middle East regional coordinator

Mobile No.: 00966 535 921 228

NEWS| Solve labor row over suspension of DH hiring with Saudi govt. –group urges DoLE

Press Release

28 March 2011

Solve labor row over suspension of DH hiring with Saudi govt. –group urges DoLE

An alliance of Filipino migrants’ rights group with chapters in the Middle East Monday urges the Department of Labor and Employment (DoLE) to solve the issue on the hiring suspension of OFW-household service workers imposed by the Saudi govt.

Citing reports, the Saudi govt. issued a ‘Note Verbal’ to the PH embassy in Riyadh saying ‘processing and verification of household service workers have been stopped until further notice’.

John Leonard Monterona said yesterday he had spoken to Philippine overseas labor officials in Saudi Arabia confirming that there was indeed a suspension imposed by the Saudi government on the hiring of OFW-household service workers..

Rampant abuses and increasing the monthly wage of OFW-DH from US$200 to US$400 were seen as reasons why the Saudi govt. decided to impose the ban on hiring Pinay household service workers.

Monterona, however, believed there are more compelling reasons why the Saudi govt. imposed the ban.

“For one is the requirement asked by the Philippine Overseas Labor offices in Saudi Arabia requiring Saudi employers to submit a detailed sketch of their house address before a job order will be approved, which aim is to pinpoint exactly whose household our OFW-DH is working for and that she could easily be traced and rescued in case she has been a victim of abuse and maltreatment,” Monterona added.

Monterona said prospective Saudi employers convey their opposition to the Saudi National Recruitment Committee (SANARCOM), an organization of recruitment agents, on the said requirement sometime on January.

“In fact, the SANARCOM had written the PH embassy and POLO in Riyadh expressing their opposition against this policy and threatened to stop hiring OFW-DH if the this will be made as a requirement as it violates Saudi employers rights to privacy as stated on the host govt. local laws,” Monterona added.

“Now the question pose is the PH govt. could withstand on insisting for our OFW-DH protection amid the protest on the part of the Saudi govt. by imposing a ban?” Monterona added.

He said: “Both, the PH and Saudi govt. have been the beneficiary of OFW-DH deployment; the PH govt. sending 80,000 household service workers (HSWs) yearly to Saudi Arabia -whose remittances form part of the considerable amount sent to the Philippines -and our HSWs have been servicing 80,000 Saudi families,” Monterona added.

“Since both governments have been the beneficiary, direct and indirectly, of OFW-DH services, thus, it is high time that both should recognize OFW-DH rights and welfare, and to uplift their well-being,” Monterona suggested.

Monterona urges the Aquino govt. through the DoLE to consider sending a high-level labor diplomatic team to discuss with its counterpart the ban imposed by the host govt. and negotiate taking into account OFWs well being, rights and welfare.

Reference:

John Leonard Monterona

Migrante-Middle East regional coordinator

Mobile No.: 00966 535 921 228

NEWS| Saudi ban on OFW-DH exposes PH govt. labor export policy dilemma –migrant group

Press Release

27 March 2011

Saudi ban on OFW-DH exposes PH govt. labor export policy dilemma –migrant group

An alliance of Filipino migrants rights group with chapters in the Middle East today said the moved by the Saudi government to stop the hiring of overseas Filipino domestic workers exposes the dilemma of the PH government ‘lucrative business’ of peddling its cheap human labor sans protection of their well-being, rights and welfare.

“Clashes of contending interests in peddling OFWs abroad became more apparent now with the Saudi government imposing a ban on hiring OFW-DH,” said John Leonard Monterona, Migrante-Middle East regional coordinator.

Citing reports, the Saudi govt. issued a ‘Note Verbal’ to the PH embassy in Riyadh saying ‘processing and verification of household service workers have been stopped until further notice’.

“It is quite strange that it was the Saudi govt. that imposes the ban, where in fact it should be the PH govt. as a response to the clamor of providing protection to OFW-DH amid rampant cases of abuses and maltreatment,” Monterona added.

Rampant abuses and increasing the monthly wage of OFW-DH from US$200 to US$400 were seen as reasons why the Saudi govt. decided to impose the ban on hiring Pinay household service workers.

Monterona, however, believed there are more compelling reasons why the Saudi govt. imposed the ban.

“For one is the requirement asked by the Philippine Overseas Labor offices in Saudi Arabia requiring Saudi employers to submit a detailed sketch of their house address before a job order will be approved, which aim is to pinpoint exactly whose household our OFW-DH is working for and that she could easily be traced and rescued in case she has been a victim of abuse and maltreatment,” Monterona added.

Monterona said prospective Saudi employers convey their opposition to the Saudi National Recruitment Committee (SANARCOM), an organization of recruitment agents, on the said requirement sometime on January.

“In fact, the SANARCOM had written the PH embassy and POLO in Riyadh expressing their opposition against this policy and threatened to stop hiring OFW-DH if this will be made as a requirement as it violates Saudi employers rights to privacy as stated on the host govt. local laws,” Monterona added.

“Now the question, is the PH govt. could withstand on insisting for our OFW-DH protection amid the protest on the part of the Saudi govt. by imposing a ban?” Monterona added.

He said: “Both, the PH and Saudi govt. have been the beneficiary of OFW-DH deployment; the PH govt. sending 80,000 household service workers (HSWs) yearly to Saudi Arabia -whose remittances form part of the considerable amount sent to the Philippines -and our HSWs have been servicing 80,000 Saudi families,” Monterona added.

“Since both governments have been the beneficiary, direct and indirectly, of OFW-DH services, thus, it is high time that both should recognize OFW-DH rights and welfare, and to uplift their well-being,” Monterona suggested.

Monterona urges the Aquino govt. through the DoLE to consider sending a high-level labor diplomatic team to discuss with its counterpart the ban imposed by the host govt. and negotiate taking into account OFWs well being, rights and welfare.

Reference:

John Leonard Monterona

Migrante-Middle East regional coordinator

Mobile No.: 00966 535 921 228

NEWS| Aquino urged to create inter-agency task force to save OFWs on death row

Press Release

26 March 2011

Aquino urged to create inter-agency task force to save OFWs on death row

Looking forward that no more overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) will be hanged to death, an alliance of Filipino migrants’ rights group in the Middle East Saturday urges President Benigno Simeon Aquino III to form a high-level inter-agency task force that would look into the cases of OFWs on death row.

John Leonard Monterona, Migrante-Middle East regional coordinator, said: “The Aquino administration, amid the impending execution of three Filipinos on China death row and if it really intends to save other OFWs on death row, should, by now, form an inter-agency task force whose primary function is to look into saving their lives from execution.”

Monterona said there are more than 70+ OFWs on China death row and 120+ in other countries.

He added: “In Saudi Arabia, there are 8 OFWs whose respective death sentences have been affirmed by the court of appeals, pending finality decision by its highest court.”

Monterona cited the case of Don Lanuza, incarcerated in Saudi Arabia by killing an Arab national in 2000, is a case in point. “As per the latest information, the court is just awaiting the son of the aggrieved party to reach legal age so that it could decide either to accept the blood money in exchange of forgiveness or reject it in favor of execution,” he said.

“The entire Filipino nation, including Filipinos abroad, have to confront this bitter reality; but efforts to save OFWs whose cases are punishable by death should start from the time a proper case had been filed and immediately hire the best legal defense team the government could provide, noting that most were victims of international drug syndicates, if not, had committed the crime in defense of his life,” Monterona added.

Monterona said the considerable numbers of OFWs on death row warrant the creation of a high-level inter-agency task force that would find ways for commutation of their death sentences and eventually spare them from execution.

The Saudi-based OFW leader re-iterates his group previous calls for an intensified campaign initiated by the government, national and international in scope, involving all concerned government agencies, to prevent OFWs being victimized by international drug traffickers and syndicates.

Yesterday, various Migrante chapters in Saudi Arabia and in the Middle East kicked off a series of indoor prayer vigils, a symbolic action calling for the postponement of the execution of 3 Filipinos in China on March 30.

Reference:

John Leonard Monterona

Migrante-Middle East regional coordinator

Mobile No.: 00966 535 921228 

NEWS| OFWs ‘coalition of the willing’ formed in assisting distress, maltreated and run away OFWs

Press Release

25 March 2011

OFWs ‘coalition of the willing’ formed in assisting distress, maltreated and run away OFWs

(Attached photo during signing of MoU by KGS-Migrante, ABC and Pinoy groups' leaders on Tuesday, 22 March.)

Concerned over the perennial problem of OFWs being victims of maltreatment and abuses, several groups of Filipino migrants on Tuesday formally inked their coalition in providing assistance to the distress, abuse, and ran away OFWs in Saudi Arabia.

John Leonard Monterona, Migrante-Middle East regional coordinator said the Kapatiran sa Gitnang Silangan (KGS - Fellowship in the Middle East), a chapter of Migrante in Saudi Arabia and the ABC and the Pinoy group, all Riyadh-based OFWs organizations, formally signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in providing assistance to distress OFWs who have sought its assistance.

Headed by Eric Jocson, KGS chairperson, and Joseph Valenzuela, KGS-Migrante welfare officer, Tuesday night met the officers of ABC group and the Pinoy group, headed by its respective chairpersons Ms. Elvie Palaris and Rodel J. Menda, and thereby signed the MoU.

“We hereby declare that we are formally forging our close cooperation providing assistance to distress OFWs who have sought our help. It may be a financial help or guidance by endorsing OFWs cases to the concerned PH government agencies like the PH embassy, POLO-OWWA and even the agencies of the host government,” the groups declared.

The newly formed coalition added: “We vow to ensure that sufficient financial and material resources to address the needs especially of distressed OFWs including legal assistance, support for repatriation and reintegration, and other related needs. 

“We believed that OWWA funds, a US$25 compulsory contribution from OFWs,  must serve the needs of OFWs-- whether documented or not, -and their families as well, through concrete services and benefits including medical assistance, burial, repatriation, social security, pensions and other welfare essentials,” the coalition added.

“The call is for unity in providing assistance to our distress OFWs. Thus, our OFWs groups called themselves as the ‘coalition of the willing’ as we have been providing assistance to distress quite some time; but this time the coming-in  of other OFWs groups are most welcome,” Monterona averred.

Monterona said: “We could not rely to the dilly-dally assistance and disservice of inept PH embassy and labor officials, but of course we will continue to perform our role as watchdog and defender of OFWs rights and welfare.”

Meanwhile, Monterona conveys that Migrante chapters in Saudi Arabia and in the Middle East along with various OFWs groups including the ABC and Pinoy groups will be having a simultaneous prayer vigils today, late in the afternoon, and on March 30, a symbolic action of its support and calls to spare the lives of 3 Pinoys schedule for execution in China.

Reference:

John Leonard Monterona

Mgrante-Middle East regional coordinator

Mobile No.: 00966 535 921 228

NEWS| Vigils set for 3 Pinoys

Press Release

24 March 2011

Vigils set for 3 Pinoys

Address grinding poverty decisively to end Filipinos being victimized by int’l. syndicates -group to PNoy

“An empty stomach pushes one to walk through even on the sharp blade of a knife”, thus said by the Middle-East based alliance of Filipino migrant rights group Migrante-Middle East.

John Leonard Monterona, Migrante-Middle East regional coordinator, today said one could simply blame the 3 Filipino drug mules and the other 200+ on China death-rows on what they have done wrong –of being a drug mule.

“But judging on what they have done fallen prey victims of international drug syndicates and were primarily pushed to commit such crime by grinding poverty in the country is a derision to their ill-fated situation,” Monterona said.

Monterona is reacting on yesterday’s confirmation by the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on the date of execution of the 3 Filipino drug mules to be carried out on March 30 when the original date of execution, February 20 & 21, has been postponed after Vice President Jejomar Binay pleaded for its suspension.

“We are still hoping, though a chance of another postponement of execution is very slim, the 3 will be spared and instead a lesser penalty will be considered by the Chinese authority,” Monterona added.

Monterona said it is every Filipinos fervent hope that the 3 Pinoys ill-fated situation will serve as a ‘wake-up call’ to the entire Filipino nation, most especially to the incumbent Aquino government.

“President PNoy, upon assumption to office, promised to lift up the majority’s poor and unemployed Filipinos from poverty; to create decent jobs for them so that they will not be forced to accept dirty, demeaning, and dangerous jobs abroad (3D),” Monterona reminding PNoy of its campaign promise and his administration’s battle-cry.

He noted there is a big disconnect on what the Aquino government had been posturing since assumption to office than what his administration had actually done for more than 9 months in office.

“Unemployment remains a perennial problem, to include the never-ending soaring prices of commodities and services, and yet government social services and welfare programs for the indigents have diminished –these conditions pushes Filipinos to gamble working abroad”Monterona averred.

In regards to rampant illegal drugs smuggling and human trafficking, Monterona said: “The government is merely reacting on day-to-day incidents of drug smuggling and human trafficking that victimizes poor and jobless Filipinos sans a comprehensive blue-print to combat these social menace.

“We are saying these because it is government responsibility, having all the needed resources -human skills and talent and government funds, and vested with governmental powers and authorities- to solve if not minimized the effect of joblessness and poverty by creating decent jobs in the country, and combating gangs of illegal drugs and human traffickers by sharpening its political will to smash these syndicates,” Monterona.

He said various chapters of Migrante in the Middle East and its affiliate organizations will be having simultaneous indoor vigil prayers on March 25, a Friday, and on March 30.

Reference:

John Leonard Monterona

Migrante-Middle East regional coordinator

Mobile No.: 00966 535 921 228

NEWS| Group urges probe over report OFW injured during protests in Bahrain

Press Release

23 March 2011

Group urges probe over report OFW injured during protests in Bahrain

A Filipino migrant rights group in the Middle East Wednesday said it received a report about an overseas Filipino worker (OFW) who had been injured during last week heavy clashes between anti-government protesters and security forces in Bahrain.

John Leonard Monterona said, citing an electronic mail he had received from concerned OFWs in Bahrain and during conversations over the phone, a certain ‘Riza’ who is working for Al Marsooq Bakery, near Last Chance establishment, had been hit by a stone causing a fracture on her head during heavy clashes between anti-government demonstrators and security forces.

“The reports I have received, which we are still verifying the details, did not mention where exactly the incident happened and why the subject OFW had been hit,” Monterona said.

Monterona said the OFW victim was rushed and confined in Salmaniya Hospital. “She is scheduled to undergo an operation,” Monterona citing the information he received.

“I immediately called the PH embassy in Bahrain (telephone no. 00973-17721234) to inform them of the incident and had spoken with a certain Ms. Marlyn of the embassy’s assistance to the Nationals section. She confirmed that they are aware of the incident involving the subject OFW. But when I asked if the OFW victim had been provided assistance the line cut off; don’t know if it is intentional,” Monterona added.

“I tried calling again, but the line just keeps on ringing; nobody answers the phone,” Monterona said. “Why nobody at the PH embassy seems to care picking up the phone? Is it because they knew who’s calling and they don’t want Migrante to know the real condition of the OFW victim?” he continued.

“I called the PH embassy to make it sure that the OFW victim is given proper assistance and medical care,” Monterona added.

He ended: “So instead, I immediately endorsed this incident to the PH embassy via email requesting to immediately provide assistance to OFW Riza hoping they could read the case endorsement.”

Reference:

John Leonard Monterona

Migrante-Middle East regional coordinator

Mobile No.: 00966 535 921 228