12 years in prison, OFW seeks govt. help to avail Royal pardon

Press Release

1 February 2012

Bahrain's Jaw Central Prison where OFW Carlo Dayrit Jose is incarcerated since 2000

12 years in prison, OFW seeks govt. help to avail Royal pardon

An overseas Filipino worker (OFW) has been in jail for twelve long years in a Bahrain prison after the court sentenced him of unpremeditated murder. Now he is pleading for government assistance to avail the host countries’ yearly Royal pardon, according to Migrante-Middle East (M-ME), a migrant rights group providing assistance to distressed, abused, and jailed OFWs.

OFW Carlo Dayrit Jose, in his late forties, has been imprisoned in Jaw prison, Bahrain’s central jail. He was convicted on the murder of OFW Maricel Garduque in 2000 after a heated argument broke out between them resulting in the woman's killing.

As per court records, in the same year he has also been diagnosed with Psychological schizophrenia.

According to Bahrain’s Daily Tribune news reporter Mr. Roberto Carillo, OFW Jose is currently ‘the only Filipino to ever receive a life sentence from a Bahraini Court.’ Mr. Carillo conveyed OFW Jose’s pleading for assistance to John Leonard Monterona, Saudi-based Migrante-ME leader.

“I was informed that in 2010, OFW Jose obtained a letter of forgiveness from the mother of the victim in the Philippines and this was forwarded to the Royal court for appropriate action but until now nothing happened,” said John Leonard Monterona, M-ME regional coordinator.

Monterona said OFW Jose has been expecting that he will be released then since he obtained a written forgiveness from the kin of the aggrieved family by virtue of a Royal pardon which the Bahraini Royal family grants every year.

Speaking to Daily Tribune’s Carillo, OFW Jose said, “Almost two years and ten pardons have already passed since the forgiveness letter has been given to the Royal Court. Every time, my hopes are up that I will be included in the distribution of the royal pardons.”

Monterona calls on the Aquino III administration through the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) and the PH embassy in Bahrain, and to Vice President Jejomar Binay, presidential adviser on OFWs concerns, to attend and closely follow the application of OFW Jose’s inclusion in the upcoming Royal pardon.

“We came to know that the Bahrain Royal family will issue a pardon this coming February 14, 2012. We are more than happy to see OFW Jose be included in the February 14 pardon grant by the Bahrain Royal family and eventually be released from prison and reunite with his family in the Philippines to start a new life,” Monterona added.

OFW Jose sent us an open letter, as stated below, which he hopes would reach His Majesty the King of Bahrain.

Your Majesty,

My name is Carlo Dayrit Jose, a Filipino national with CPR number 640538720 sentenced to life imprisonment in May 28, 2002 by the higher criminal court for the unpremeditated murder of my fellow Filipino Ms. Maricel Garduque. However, on April 26, 2010 I obtained a letter of forgiveness from the mother of the deceased, Mrs. Norma Garduque which was duly authenticated by the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs.

On October 18, 2010, the Philippine Ambassador to the Kingdom of Bahrain, Her Excellency Ma. Corazon Yap-Bahjin met personally the Minister for the Royal Court, Sheikh Khalid bin Ahmed Al Khalifa and handed the original letter of forgiveness.

The Minister told the Ambassador that he will forward the letter of forgiveness to His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa.

Your Majesty, numerous amnesties have already (pardoning of inmates) were given by your esteemed office since Ambassador Bahjin handed my letter of forgiveness to the Royal Court. As of this writing, I am still under incarceration.

Your Majesty, please, I am appealing to you to consider my letter. May almighty God bless you with good health and long life. Thank you.

OFW group to Aquino govt: Go slow in peddling OFWs in MENA amid unstable situation; presses jobs creation at home

Press Release

1 Feb. 2011

OFW group to Aquino govt: Go slow in peddling OFWs in MENA amid unstable situation; presses jobs creation at home

Noting the peace and order in some Middle East and African Nations (MENA) are still volatile amid on-going protests, clashes between government forces and dissenters, and sporadic bombing incidents, a Filipino migrants rights group today calls on the Aquino III administration to rethink its massive and intensified deployment of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in the Middle-east and African countries.

“It is prudent for the Aquino administration to seriously put a break in peddling Filipino workers in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), amid the still volatile peace and order situation in this part of world,” said John Leonard Monterona, Migrante-Middle East regional coordinator.

Monterona noted that Middle-East and North African countries are considered, for the past 10 years, as fertile labor market frontier by past administrations and even by the present Aquino III govt.

He said there are five middle-east countries making on the overall top ten destinations of Filipino workers such as Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, and Bahrain. There are also a considerable numbers of OFWs in Iraq and Syria.

While in North Africa, there are large concentrations of OFWs in Libya and Egypt, both were besieged of political upheavals last year; both countries peace and order situation is still volatile.

Monterona noted on Friday, January 27, a suicide bomber detonated an explosives-packed car near a funeral procession in southeastern Baghdad killing at least 32 people in the latest brazen attacked since the US troop withdrawal from Iraq.

The incident prompted Philippine Foreign Affairs secretary Albert del Rosario to travel Sunday to Iraq ‘to assess the security and safety of the Filipinos in light of the reported escalating violence.’

“Massive buildup of pro-democracy protesters in Egypt has also been noted, while in Syria violence continued. There is fear that the Iran conflict will escalate amid economic sanctions imposed by the Western countries lead by the US and European countries,” Monterona noted.

Monterona said the current political events in some MENA countries should be treated as revealing ‘signs of the time’ that could not anymore qualify these countries as fertile labor market frontiers. ‘Thus, the Aquino III govt. must shun peddling OFWs in MENA countries; instead it must focus creating local jobs with decent pay and benefits.”

“It is high time for the Philippines to develop and have its own vibrant local industries it could rely on –first, by nationalizing its basic industries, and secondly, genuinely implement agrarian reform with support services and technological know-how to develop our agrarian-based economy which will serve as a reliable economic backbone of the emerging Philippines,” Monterona ended. # # #

Reference:

John Leonard Monterona

Migrante-Middle East regional coordinator

Mobile No.00966 564978012

MENA peace & order still volatile: Group urges Aquino govt. to shun massive peddling of OFWs

Press Release

28 January 2011

MENA peace & order still volatile

Group urges Aquino govt. to shun massive peddling of OFWs; presses jobs creation at home

Noting the peace and order in some Middle East and African Nations (MENA) are still volatile amid on-going protests, clashes between government forces and dissenters, and sporadic bombing incidents, a Filipino migrants rights group today calls on the Aquino III administration to rethink its massive and intensified deployment of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in the Middle-east and African countries.

“It is prudent for the Aquino administration to seriously put a break in peddling Filipino workers in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), amid the still volatile peace and order situation in this part of world,” said John Leonard Monterona, Migrante-Middle East regional coordinator.

Monterona noted that Middle-East and North African countries are considered, for the past 10 years, as fertile labor market frontier by past administrations and even by the present Aquino III govt.

He said there are five middle-east countries making on the overall top ten destinations of Filipino workers such as Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, and Bahrain. There are also a considerable numbers of OFWs in Iraq and Syria.

While in North Africa, there are large concentrations of OFWs in Libya and Egypt, both were besieged of political upheavals last year; both countries peace and order situation is still volatile.

Monterona noted on Friday, January 27, a suicide bomber detonated an explosives-packed car near a funeral procession in southeastern Baghdad killing at least 32 people in the latest brazen attacked since the US troop withdrawal from Iraq.

The incident prompted Philippine Foreign Affairs secretary Albert del Rosario to travel Sunday to Iraq ‘to assess the security and safety of the Filipinos in light of the reported escalating violence.’

“Massive buildup of pro-democracy protesters in Egypt has also been noted, while in Syria violence continued. There is fear that the Iran conflict will escalate amid economic sanctions imposed by the Western countries lead by the US and European countries,” Monterona noted.

Monterona said the current political events in some MENA countries should be treated as revealing ‘signs of the time’ that could not anymore qualify these countries as fertile labor market frontiers. ‘Thus, the Aquino III govt. must shun peddling OFWs in MENA countries; instead it must focus creating local jobs with decent pay and benefits.”

“It is high time for the Philippines to develop and have its own vibrant local industries it could rely on –first, by nationalizing its basic industries, and secondly, genuinely implement agrarian reform with support services and technological know-how to develop our agrarian-based economy which will serve as a reliable economic backbone of the emerging Philippines,” Monterona ended. # # #

Reference:

John Leonard Monterona

Migrante-Middle East regional coordinator

Mobile No.00966 564978012

Some new hire OFWs deployed without insurance, others ‘improperly’ insured –OFW group

Press Release

26 January 2011

Some new hire OFWs deployed without insurance, others ‘improperly’ insured –OFW group

A Filipino migrants’ rights group, citing reports and complaints from overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), said Friday there are new hire OFWs deployed last year who were improperly insured and some were deployed without the required insurance.

The amended Overseas Filipinos and Migrant Workers Act or Republic Act No.10022, which was signed into law on March 8, 2010, requires ‘each migrant worker deployed by a recruitment/manning agency shall be covered by a compulsory insurance policy which shall be secured at no cost to the said worker (Sec.37-A). It further said that such insurance policy shall be effective for the duration of the migrant worker's employment.

The mandatory OFW insurance coverage primarily includes accidental death, natural death, permanent total disablement, repatriation cost, subsistence allowance and money claims.

The OFW insurance also covers compassionate visit, medical evacuation, and medical repatriation.

As per the guidelines issued relative to mandatory insurance coverage for agency-hired OFWs, land-based and sea-based, the Insurance Commission (IC) is task to furnish the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) a list of insurance providers qualified to provide the mandatory insurance coverage. It also requires that each qualified insurance provider shall be issued a certification that it is authorized to issue the compulsory insurance.

The guidelines mandated the POEA not to issue an Overseas Employment Certificate (OEC) or any equivalent clearance to the OFW if the insurance contract bears the name of an insurance company not included in the list of qualified insurance providers furnished by the IC.

John Leonard Monterona, Migrante-Middle East regional director, confirmed that he received reports that out of the 360,000+ OFWs newly hired and deployed last year, little less than 50% of them were not insured properly and others not insured at all in violation of  the amended Migrant Workers Act or RA10022.

“We are receiving complaints from a number of new hire OFWs deployed last year that they suspect they were not properly insured or have not been insured, thus they fear that they may not be paid of their claims if the situation requires,” Monterona added.

Monterona said his group is alarmed of these reports. He noted that recruitment/manning agencies, in cahoots with the Insurance Providers, are not following the law and are reneging on their obligations to their hired and deployed OFWs.

Monterona noted the observation of Philippine Association of Service Exporters, Inc. (PASEI) president Mr. Victor Fernandez who said that Insurance providers made a mockery of the law by resorting to predatory pricing, offering rebates, and engaging in cutthroat unprofessional competition.

On March 7, 2011, the Insurance Commission through its commissioner, Emmanuel F. Dooc, issued Circular Letter No.10-2011 ordering the liberalization of OFWs insurance premium rates and introduced the implementation of reserve requirements scheme.

Monterona, however, said the IC’s move to liberalize the OFW insurance premium rates will contradict and will result to gross and rampant violation of the prescribed minimum premium coverage.

He cited for land-based OFWs, the original insurance premium as per IC Circular Letter No. 35-2010 issued on Dec.7, 2010 is US$72 and US$144, for 1-year and 2-year contract, respectively. While for sea-based OFWs, it is US$100 and US$200, for 1-year and 2-year contract, respectively.

“Some, if not all recruitment/manning agencies, in cahoots of Insurance providers, are not following and wantonly violates the prescribed OFWs insurance premium rates,” Monterona noted.

Monterona calls on the Insurance Commission and the DoLE-POEA to probe on this report.

“The reports that there are new hire OFWs deployed last year without proper insurance or were not insured is worth investigating. Imposing sanctions to recruitment/manning agencies and Insurance providers that have proven violated the law must follow swiftly,” Monterona lamented.

Monterona said he had communicated with former Ambassador Jose Apolinario Lozada Jr., Executive director of the Congressional Oversight Committee on Migrant Workers Affairs regarding the matter. “Amb. Lozada positively responded that he will look into it and will make sure that the provisions of the Migrant Workers law pertaining to OFWs insurance will be strictly adhered and implemented.”

Reference:

John Leonard Monterona

Migrante-Middle East regional coordinator

Mobile No. 00966 564978012

COMELEC free trips and gifts to persuade OFWs to register and vote a cheap publicity gimmick –OFW group

Press Release

23 January 2012

COMELEC free trips and gifts to persuade OFWs to register and vote a cheap publicity gimmick –OFW group

A Filipino migrants’ rights group in the Middle East chided today the Commission on Election (COMELEC) plan to offer all-expense-paid trips and gift checks just to encourage overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) to register and vote in the 2013 mid-term election.

Last January 18 press conference, COMELEC commissioner Armando Velasco was quoted saying ‘these incentives were aimed at increasing the dismal figures of OAV registration, which began in November last year.’

“The free trips and gift checks promo by the COMELEC just to encourage OFWs to register is a cheap publicity stunt. It is like we, OFWs, are treated like a crying kid that is given a candy to stop from crying,” said John Leonard Monterona, Migrante-Middle East regional coordinator.

Monterona said what they have been demanding from the COMELEC and the Overseas Absentee Voting Secretariat (OAVS) is the conduct of massive information drive and education campaign in various posts abroad and in places where there are large concentration of OFWs.

“Even before the start of the OAV registration abroad November last year, we are calling the attention of the COMELEC and the OAV secretariat and the various PH posts in the Middle East have not yet started its information drive and education campaign on OAV registration,” Monterona added.

“We have noticed that there is no information drive yet by the various PH posts, an important element in raising the awareness of our fellow OFWs to register or validate their previous registration,” Monterona observed.

Since November 2011, the start of OAV registration, records showed only 16,000 have registered. The COMELEC is targeting 1-M OAV registrants for the 2013 elections.

Monterona asked: “How could the COMELEC and the OAV Secretariat meet its 1-M absentee voters when they dilly-dally in its information drive and education campaign activities?”

Monterona cited the lack of information and education drive as one of the reasons cited why the total numbers of registered absentee voters have not reached to the 1-M as per Comelec target last May 2010 elections.

“The conduct of massive information and education drive, to take into serious consideration the political environment and limitations imposed by the host government, can’t be taken for granted as it foretells us the success or failure of the overseas absentee voting system,” Monterona averred.

“The COMELEC budget for information and education campaign must be utilized to attain a higher number of registered absentee voters, 1-M or even more, and to avoid the disenfranchisement of OFWs who have vested by law the right of suffrage though they are working abroad,” Monterona added.

Monterona opined the budget for OAV information drive and education if spent for free trips and gift checks for few lucky OFWs, then it was just a waste of government funds.

Monterona noted various PH posts in the Middle East have not seen doing OAV info drive, hopping from OFWs accommodation to their tambayans, and other places where there are large concentration of OFWs. ‘No OAV posters and flyers were distributed to OFWs,” he noted.

Monterona said they have urged PH embassy in Saudi to set up of mobile registration centers, but no action yet from the embassy.

Reference:

John Leonard Monterona

Migrante-Middle East regional coordinator

Mobile No. 00966 535 921 228

38 distressed OFWs in Saudi shelter accuse PH officials of neglect; one alleges labor attaché took her money

Press Release

20 January 2012

38 distressed OFWs in Saudi shelter accuse PH officials of neglect; one alleges labor attaché took her money

Thirty-eight distressed overseas Filipino workers, all women, temporarily sheltered at the Saudi Social Welfare Agency (SSWA), a half-way house for distressed women migrant workers managed by the Saudi govt. in Dammam, Saudi Arabia, accused Philippine labor officials of not attending their repatriation. One of them alleges that a labor attaché took her money.

Migrante-Middle East (M-ME) regional coordinator John Leonard Monterona said his group received several short messages (SMS) discretely sent by some of the 38 distressed OFWs since the last few days pleading for assistance as they complain PH officials of neglecting them and delaying their repatriation.

The 38 distressed OFWs are NORHAYA MOHALADEN, NORHATA ANDOY, MARGIE EGOY, AIZA GANGGILAN, SOPIA BENITO, FATIMA AMBOA, ADORASION SIMPUEGO, MAISALAM KATUAN, NURAYDA MANGUDA, ELENOR GONZALES, EDNA MONTEVIRGEN, SHELLA MAGDADARO, ELIZABETH MANUEL, LORNA JUCAR, ARJIE BERMUDEZ, SAVILLA ROBLES, SNOOKY BOLECHE, ELLEN TABUGON, CHARMI JANE MIGUEL, RIZA MONTANES, VICTORIA CABARRUBAS, CLOTILDE LIM, ARMIEGRACE QUIMSON, AYLEEN CACERES, VIOLETA CABARAL, FELLY ABARQUEZ, ZUMAINA ABAD, AMELIA EVANGELISTA, ALDIN LONTOC, CASHEN JOY MERCADO, SARKIA HAKIM, ANNA VICTORIA SALOME, MAEVA RAPSING, EVANGELINE DINOFOL, ARLEN DAYAGANON, AUELEN LAYCO, RONALYN DAQUIPEL and BELINDA LAUREANO. 

Monterona said the OFWs ran away from their respective employers over allegations of sexual harassment and abuses, and maltreatment, while others complained of not being paid of their salaries for months. They were endorsed by POLO officials to SSWA for repatriation.

“Kami po ay humihingi ng tulong sa inyo sapagkat alam namin na hindi kami kayang tulungan n gating embahada dito. Kami po ay umabot na sa 3 buwan at meron pong umabot sa 1 taon at 3 buwan (We are asking assistance from you because we are quite sure that our embassy can’t help us. We have been here for 3 months while others for 1 year and 3 months already),” one of the several text messages from the distressed OFWs received by Migrante-ME.

 Monterona added that the distressed OFWs alleged that embassy officials are merely giving them false promises that they will be repatriated soon.“Pero kelan pa? (But when?),” the distressed OFWs lamented.

“The distressed OFWs told us that, in fact, officials from the Saudi ministry have been asking them why PH embassy is not issuing travel documents despite that they were told months ago to issue travel documents as required for their repatriation formalities,” Monterona quoting one of the distressed OFWs during yesterday’s phone conversation.

Monterona slammed the Philippine Embassy for dilly-dallying in issuing the required travel document of the distressed OFWs. “This is not only an insult to distressed OFWs but a disservice to them.”

The distressed OFWs have made mentioned of a certain Mr. Bujanaid Andi, POLO case officer, who according to the distressed OFWs he had visited them rarely like ‘once in a blue moon’. “Mr. Bujanaid would always tell us he is busy attending his children, thus he could not visit us and attend on our repatriation formalities,” one of the distressed OFWs lamented.

Monterona said that he is alarmed of the allegation from one of the distressed OFWs that her money amounting to US$2,200 was taken from her by labor attaché Adam Musa.

“These are serious allegations against the mentioned POLO officials who may have violated Republic Act 6713 (Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public officials and Employees) and DoLE Administrative Order 476, S.2010 (Code of Conduct for DoLE officials and Employees) issued on December 2010 by Sec. Baldoz,” Monterona added.

Monterona said: ‘These inept POLO officials must be immediately recalled and we call on Department of Labor and Employment (DoLE) chief Rosalinda Baldoz to impose disciplinary action or dismiss them from their job.”

Reference:

John Leonard Monterona

Migrante Middle East regional coordinator

Mobile No.: 00966 564978012

AHRC: OFW falsely charged of theft and tried in absentia is released after serving her sentence

Dear Friends,

In addition to the below press release issued by the Asian Human Rights Commission, I have spoken with the Philippine Embassy-Assistance to the Nationals section official confirming that OFW Melanie Cordon completed her sentenced on December 14, but she could not get home yet.

I was informed by the embassy official that they will dispatch a team next week in Hail City jail where OFW Cordon was imprisoned to attend the formalities of her release. Only then, the embassy could schedule her departure from Saudi Arabia to the Philippines.

For OFWs rights and welfare,

-John Leonard Monterona

Migrante-Middle East regional coordinator

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

PRESS RELEASE
AHRC-PRL-002-2012

SAUDI ARABIA/PHILIPPINES: Melanie Cordon the OFW falsely charged of theft and tried in absentia is released after serving her sentence

(Hong Kong, January 17, 2012) The Asian Human Rights Commission has been informed that Melanie Cordon, the Overseas Filipino Worker who was arrested in Saudi Arabia has been released after serving her prison term of four months.

Melanie was arrested after being accused of theft by the mother of her employer on August 14, 2011. She was never given an opportunity to defend herself and was tried in absentia. According to the information received, when Melanie went to the lady's house to retrieve her belongings prior to departing the country she found that her suitcase had been opened and examined by a woman police officer. Items belong to her employer's mother, which Melanie had never seen before, were found in her luggage.

After being tried in absentia Melanie was convicted and sentenced to four months imprisonment in Ha'il Main Prison. Despite assurances from the Philippine Embassy and Mr. Raul Hernandez of the Department of Foreign Affairs in Manila no assistance of any kind was provided and the only advice the embassy officer could give was that she should simply serve out her sentence.

Melanie was released on December 14 and will now return home to the Philippines, free and well but with a criminal record against name.

For full details of the case please see the following statements and Urgent Appeals:

SAUDI ARABIA/PHILIPPINES: Falsely charged domestic worker convicted in trial in absentia

SAUDI ARABIA/PHILIPPINES: Melanie Cordon case - government's neglect & inability to act promptly

SAUDI ARABIA/PHILIPPINES: Melanie Cordon case - 'serve jail term rather than question your conviction'

SAUDI ARABIA/PHILIPPINES: Melanie Cordon serves out sentence as government turns its back

While Melanie appears to have been well treated by the prison officials, a fact for which everyone is very grateful, she now returns to the Philippines to a doubtful future. The lack of attention and action by the government of the Philippines and especially Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) and the Department of Foreign Affairs serves as an appalling indictment of their lack of commitment to the OFWs who bring in millions of dollars in revenue annually.

# # #

About AHRC: The Asian Human Rights Commission is a regional non-governmental organisation that monitors human rights in Asia, documents violations and advocates for justice and institutional reform to ensure the protection and promotion of these rights. The Hong Kong-based group was founded in 1984.

Saudi OFW jailed over ‘lost and found’ ATM seeks reduction of sentence

Press Release

18 January 2012

Saudi OFW jailed over ‘lost and found’ ATM seeks reduction of sentence

An overseas Filipino worker (OFW) expressed remorse for picking up a lost automated teller machine (ATM) card owned by a Saudi national who sent him to jail, according to Filipino migrants rights group Migrante-Middle East (M-ME).

OFW Lito (not his real name), 34, from Caloocan City, was charged of stealing 75,000 Saudi rials, roughly equivalent to P850,000) from a lost ATM card of a Saudi national which the former found it jammed inside the machine when he is about to withdraw an amount from his own ATM card issued by his company for their regular salary.

“According to him, he was tempted and tried to withdraw an amount. He was surprised that the ATM released a huge amount,” Monterona quoting OFW Lito who was incarcerated in Al-Hair jail in Riyadh, Saudi’s capital.

Unfortunately, Monterona said, he was caught by the bank’s CCTV and he was apprehended on June 9, 2011. Months later, he was sentenced to 5 years imprisonment plus a hundred of lashes by a Saudi court.

“He often called me seeking assistance. He requested me to convey and follow with the PH embassy his request to file for a reduction of sentence,” Monterona added.

Monterona said, on January 16, he talked with PH embassy’s Assistance to the National section head Consul Roussel Reyes discussing the possibility of filing an appeal for a reduction of sentence.

“Consul Reyes explained that it would be very difficult to convince the court to reduce his sentence as the money taken from the ATM card is a huge amount,” Monterona adding that aside from the public liability aspect of the offense, the court may require him to pay the amount to the Saudi national if the latter would decide to claim his money back.

Monterona said OFW Lito’s case shares us basic moral lesson to ponder: not to be tempted to take advantage of anything, money or other valuables, especially if it is not yours.

OFW Lito arrived in Saudi Arabia on April 2009 and works as a driver for a local services company.

Reference:

John Leonard Monterona

Migrante Middle East regional coordinator

Mobile No.: 00966 535921228

Group tells PNoy to instruct government agencies and corporations to stop imposing additional fees, overcharging OFWs

Press Release

17 January 2012

Group tells PNoy to instruct government agencies and corporations to stop imposing additional fees, overcharging OFWs

A Filipino migrant rights group in the Middle East urges President Benigno Simeon Aquino III to issue a tall order to all concerned government agencies and government-run corporations to stop imposing additional fees and incessantly overcharging overseas Filipino workers.

The call was made by Migrante-Middle East (M-ME) speaking through its regional coordinator John Leonard Monterona after a Commission on Audit (CoA) report revealed that the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), a govt. agency adjunct to the Department of Labor and Employment (DoLE) has been overcharging OFWs for P13-M in 2010.

According to the CoA, the government made an extra P13-M in 2010 at the expense of OFWs who were overcharged on processing fees as Balik Mangagawa (returning/vacationing OFWs) collected by Philippine overseas labor officials in 27 countries.

The CoA report also revealed arbitrary and excessive collection of OWWA fees on 2009 of about P960,615.00

Every OFW who will spent vacation in the Philippines but will also be returning after their vacation are required to get an Overseas Employment Certificate (OEC). Fees collected upon issuance of the OEC are OWWA membership fee amounting to US$25, Philhealth premium of P900, Pag-Ibig membership P100, and POEA processing fee P100 totaling to about P2,181.00

“We are quite certain the OWWA through its overseas labor officials have also overcharged us, OFWs, last year (2011) that might surpassed the amount overcharged on 2010,” Monterona adding that the CoA must also released its report for year 2011 in regards to arbitrary and excessive collection of OWWA fees.

Monterona recalled that on November last year, CoA also released a report that there are about P21-M unremitted funds from various OWWA officers abroad.

Monterona said they called on OWWA chief Dimzon to investigate the unliquidated expenses of OWWA officials.

Monterona also revealed that there were well founded allegations of millions of unliquidated expenses of some OWWA officials who have travelled abroad which were charged to OWWA trust funds. This unliquated expenses may surpass the unremitted OFWs funds and must be investigated, too,” Monterona averred.

He added that the OFWs funds being a trust fund collected from OFWs hard earned money must be given protection and must be secured by the Aquino government from any misuse and misallocation.

Early this January, OFWs and Migrante chapters abroad launched a campaign against a hike on their health insurance premium as per the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (Philhealth) issued Circular No.022 imposing a 160% hike from the current P900 to P2,400

“If PNoy has a genuine concern to our OFWs, he must issue a tall order to concerned govt. agencies and corporation to stop imposing additional charges to OFWs and abhor overburdening us. He must also order an investigation on the arbitrary and excessive collection of fees charged to OFWs so that an appropriate will be filed against corrupt officials,” Monterona added.

Monterona said DoLE Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz and OWWA administrator Carmelita Dimzon has a lot of explaining to do to the 10-M OFWs abroad about this arbitrary and excessive charging of Balik Mangagawa fees and about the OFWs funds held in trust to the government.

“A government paramount mandate is to deliver affordable, if not free, social and welfare services. At present, The Aquino administration failed to abide this mandate. On the other hand, it wantonly imposes additional fees and charges overburdening its people, including Filipino workers abroad, exploit them further until they bleed dry and yet government programs, services, and protection are not enough and still wanting,” Monterona concluded. # # #  

Reference:

John Leonard Monterona

Migrante-Middle East regional coordinator

Mobile No.00966535921228

OFW group wants speedy Corona trial; OFW leader shares his impression on 1st day impeachment trial

Press Release

16 January 2012

OFW group wants speedy Corona trial; OFW leader shares his impression on 1^st day impeachment trial

As the impeachment trial of Chief Justice Renator Corona Jr., commenced today, a Filipino migrant rights group said it wanted a speedy trial by the Senate, convened as the trial court, on the impeachment case filed by the House of Representatives.

“We want a speedy trial to avoid dragging the nation to a state of political bickering and divisiveness. But we are more than happy to see Chief Justice Corona convicted, thereby removed from office,” said John Leonard Monterona, Migrante-Middle East regional coordinator.

Monterona added Corona’s removal from office by the Senate-turned-impeachment-court is the first step and a milestone to former President and now Pampanga Representative Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s conviction on the many charges filed against her.

“The Supreme Court with Corona as chief magistrate is providing Mrs. Arroyo a shield to avoid conviction on charges filed against her,” Monterona added.

Monterona, however, cautioned that the Aquino administration may not really be interested in prosecuting Arroyo and her political cohorts. “The public believed that the real motive of CJ Corona’s removal is the unfavorable to Cojuangco-Aquino clan ruling on Hacienda Luisita and control over the judiciary by the Aquino regime.”

1^st day of impeachment trial

Monterona shares his impressions during the 1^st day of the impeachment trial and how the protagonists perform:

As to Senator Judges - I noticed, the Senate convened as impeachment trial judges, were ready and seemed to know their role as an impeachment court. Credit is given to the leadership of Senate Pres. Juan Ponce Enrile who is also a lawyer. There are 11-members of the Senate were also lawyers and their being a lawyer would set a good example and leadership to their non-lawyer colleague.

As to Prosecution panel - Members of the prosecution panel, though they are lawyers, seems ready also for the trial battle. Though, noticeably, most of them ceased to practice court trial lawyering since they have been elected in Congress and perform legislative works rather than court trial that require doing lots of homework. I supposed, the Prosecution have studied well their cases/articles of impeachment supported with hard facts/evidences. But I am not impressed of Rep. Neil Tupas, as lead prosecutor, opening statement.

As to Defense panel - As expected, the members of the defense panel are more prepared and acquainted in court trial as they are concurrently doing actual trial in court as they were members of prominent law firms. I would expect them to delay or probably employ dilatory tactics to prolong the impeachment while wooing the public and sway a favorable opinion for their client, the impeached CJ Corona.

“As to my impression of the 1st day of the trial, I observe that it went well and smoothly. As I have said, the Senate convened as the trial judges appeared prepared to hear and conduct the trial of CJ Corona,” Monterona added.

As to the questions if he expected that the court would deny the motion for preliminary investigation and the motion to site for contempt the prosecution panel, Monterona has these to say:

Yes, I am expecting the court would deny the request or motion for preliminary investigation. I believed it is not even on the procedure of the impeachment court and mainly because there are no substantial issues that would warrant the conduct of preliminary investigation as the trial of CJ Corona is not a pure criminal proceeding.

“In regards to motion to cite for contempt the members of the prosecution for publicly issuing to the public evidences it gathered against CJ Corona, I believed a strong reminder from the impeachment court headed by Sen. Enrile would do. I could not think any other penalty or disciplinary action could be imposed against the prosecutors. The Senate trial court speaking through Sen. Enrile appeal to both sides to refrain from issuing evidences to the public as the Senate-turned-trial-court is the rightful body to receive evidences and other motions as at the end of the trial, the senator-judges will decide based on their independence, right judgement, and impartiality,” Monterona averred.

 “I am hoping that the impeachment court would be impartial throughout the trial. The integrity of the conduct of the trial rested on every Senator-judges shoulder.  Better, if they too would abhor issuing statements or their impressions every after trial to the media and avoid grandstanding,”Monterona asked on what he expects on the Senator-judges.

Reference:

John Leonard Monterona

Migrante-Middle East regional coordinator

Mobile No.00966535921228

OFWs eager to observe Corona trial via internet, online sites

Press Release

15 January 2012

OFWs eager to observe Corona trial via internet, online sites

Overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) around the world are eager to observe the Senate trial on Chief Justice Renato Corona Jr. impeachment case according to a Filipino migrants’ rights group.

Members of the Senate acting as trial-judges on the impeachment case file against the Chief justice will commence trial tomorrow, January 16.

Migrante-Middle East regional coordinator John Leonard Monterona said their 3,000 strong members in the middle-east will be closely observing what he called ‘blockbuster trial of the year’.

“For sure, Corona trial will be another blockbuster trial which could even surpass Pres. Joseph Estrada’s epic impeachment trial in 2001 in terms of viewership and popularity,” Monterona added.

He cited that many OFWs excitement to observe and watch the Corona trial is complimented by easy access to internet facilities and online news coverage.

“OFWs have access to internet and online news at their offices and even on their accommodations and apartments,” Monterona added.

Monterona noted that OFWs around the world are becoming more aware of the Philippine events back home courtesy of easy and available access to internet and news online.

“We could observe that our fellow OFWs are now politically aware of what is happening in the Philippines compared to, let us say a decade ago, though they are abroad foremost for economic reason,” Monterona opined.

He noted that OFWs consciousness on the affairs of the state does not just came out of the blue. ‘It sprung from OFWs’ openness and constant political education and exposure on various issues such as the Corona impeachment,” Monterona averred.

“The Corona trial is significant to us, OFWs, as we too longed for a corrupt-free Philippine society. By critically observing the trial, it will guide us what course of collective action to take having in mind the best interest of our nation,” Monterona concluded. # # #

Reference:

John Leonard Monterona

Migrante Middle East regional coordinator

Mobile No.: 00966 535921228