OFWs forced migration a weak anti-RH justification, group tells Enrile

Press Release

29 November 2012

OFWs forced migration a weak anti-RH justification, group tells Enrile

Migrante-Middle East (M-ME) today chided Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile after the latter justified his anti-RH stand by saying that he is against RH bill because OFWs is Philippines biggest export.

On Thursday, during the Kapihan sa Senado press forum, the Senate president said, “Ang pinakamalaking export natin is OFW (overseas Filipino workers). Export iyan eh, kaya ako kontra ako sa RH dahil diyan. Ang magpapalago ng bansa natin ay iyong excess population natin na sinanay natin na tumatanggap ng mga trabaho abroad that others don’t want to handle. We have to accept that. Korea started that way.”

Reacting to this, M-ME regional coordinator John Leonard Monterona said, “While Sen. Enrile is right in his observation that OFWs is PH biggest export, which previous administrations kept on denying, however his justification of his anti-RH stand is misplaced and put in an improper context.”

Monterona added Sen. Enrile failed to recognize the root causes of Philippine forced migration phenomenon.

“To say that the PH economy will improve mainly due to intensified government labor export program and abundant human resources for export is not true at all just because it’s keeping the PH economy afloat,” Monterona stressed.

Monterona noted at present no migrant-sending states could claim that they gained economic development by mere reliance to migrants’ remittances though it helps pump-up the often stagnant local economy due to massive local consumption.

“More so, Sen. Enrile failed to see that most OFWs who are engaged in a contractual employment returning to the country empty only to be reintegrated to the jobless population,” Monterona adding that ‘human labor exportation is on the path of vicious cycle of maldevelopment or a state of development that was not developed in a normal way.

Monterona further said, even the reported 3^rd quarter 7.1% PH GDP growth, certainly OFWs remittances contributed to this, but how does it positively impacted the lives of OFWs and their families is a good question to ponder amid good peso appreciation against dollar, rising prices of basic goods and services.

“The 7.1% PH GDP growth is a positive bulletin only for the 1% rich families; while for the 99% poor and middle-income families, it won’t be felt,” Monterona averred.

“Sen. Enrile’s justification of his anti-RH stand will only intensify the peddling of millions of unemployed Filipinos despite no protection abroad and disregard of our rights and welfare as migrant workers, and this won’t solve forced migration phenomenon because it does not squarely finds solution to its root causes,” Monterona concluded. # # #

Reference:

John Leonard Monterona

Migrante-Middle East regional coordinator

Mobile No. 00966 543547736

OFW groups intensify campaign versus Aquino’s AO#31; Congratulates Migrants Tribunal organizers

Press Release

29 November 2012

OFW groups intensify campaign versus Aquino’s AO#31; Congratulates Migrants Tribunal organizers

Inspired by Andres Bonifacio and the Katipuneros persistent struggle for liberation from Spanish colonizers and exploitation by the local ruling elites, progressive overseas Filipino workers’ groups in the Middle East today vow to intensify its campaign against President Benigno Simeon ‘Noynoy’ Aquino III order allowing government agencies and owned and controlled corporations to increase its fees and charges.

“OFWs will be hit hard by PNoy’s Administrative Order No. 31 considering the already numerous fees and charges collected by various government agencies in the processing and formalities of OFWs deployment abroad. Thus, PNoy administration has left us no other option than to fight back and campaign against his government’s onerous additional fees and charges to OFWs,” said John Leonard Monterona, Migrante-Middle East (M-ME) regional coordinator.

Administrative Order No. 31 was signed by President Aquino III on October 1, 2012 and will ‘immediately took effect’, stated in the said order.

Migrante affiliates in the United Arab Emirates spearheaded the campaign against PNoy’s AO#31. An on-line signature campaign (http://www.petitions24.com/scrap-ao31) dubbed “SCRAP AO 31: STOP the legalization of State Exactions!" was circulated in social networking sites.

“This (referring to AO#31) practically institutionalizes more state exactions and fees imposed on OFWs when existing onerous fees are still under protest by the sector since President Aquino took office. Under Aquino, OFWs suffered more state exactions and fees throughout the whole migration cycle. Since 2010, the government had imposed numerous other fees from OFWs pre- and post-departure – the increase in e-passport fees, mandatory Pag-ibig contributions, Philhealth premium cost hike, mandatory medical insurance, Affidavit of Support fees, to name a few,” Migrante-UAE on-line petition stated.

The group cited the attempt by PNoy administration through Philhealth hiking OFWs yearly premium contribution to P2,400 from the current P900 that got the ire and strong opposition by various OFWs groups headed by Migrante.

“Now because of AO 31, protests by OFWs can be easily ignored and brushed aside because no less than the President has ordered it.”

Aside from the impending Philhealth premium hike, other fees and tax schemes being imposed on OFWs include the affidavit of support (AOS) here in UAE. institutionalization of state exactions when welfare services for OFW have gone from bad to worse. “Unresolved cases of OFWs continue to pile up at the POEA, National Labor Relations Commission (NLRC) and Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), according to Migrante-UAE.

“PNoy’s Administrative Order No. 31 is anti-OFW, as we, OFWs and our dependents are already bleeding dry from unnecessary government fees and charges impose to us,” Monterona added.

Monterona said OFWs and their families have valid reasons to oppose PNoy’s AO#31.

“Presently, OFWs are being charged for around P15,000 to P30,000 for documentation needed for deployment formalities on top of the placement fee equivalent to 1-month salary of the deployed OFW,” Monterona enumerating the documents needed such as Authenticated Birth Certificate, NBI clearance and authentication, Authentication of school credentials, Passport application or renewal, Community tax certificates, POEA processing fee, PAG-IBIG membership fee, Philhealth premium from P900 will rise to P2,400 January next year, OWWA membership equivalent to US$25, among other expenses.”

Monterona urges fellow OFWs to sign in the online petition and hold various forms of protest actions calling for the scrapping of PNoy’s AO#31.

Meanwhile, Monterona said Migrante affiliates and networks in the Middle East congratulate the organizers of the November 28-29 Manila Migrants Tribunal, a trial pushed by grass-root migrants groups and non-government organizations on the complaints that migrant-sending and receiving-governments are perpetuating modern-day slavery.

‘We were informed that the Tribunal issued a guilty verdict to 37 migrant-sending and receiving-states, including the Philippines as one of the world top cheap labor exporters,” he added.

“The Global Forum on Migration and Development (GFMD) hidden exploitative scheme must be exposed and opposed. Migrant workers around the world must call on the international community to hold these 37 migrant-sending and receiving states accountable of their crimes against Migrant workers and members of their families and in blatant violation of the UN Convention on the Protection of Migrants and members of their Famlies,” Monterona concluded. # # #

Reference:

John Leonard Monterona

Migrante-Middle East regional coordinator

Mobile No. 00966 543437736

OFW mysterious death: ‘We want her corpse back home’

Press Release

28 November 2012

OFW mysterious death

‘We want her corpse back home’

OFW Naomi Dela Salde Umacob, 27, native of Lupon, Davao Oriental

This was the appeal made by the kin of an overseas Filipino worker (OFW) who reportedly died of unknown circumstances in Saudi Arabia, according to a Filipino migrants’ rights group.

In an electronic mail to Migrante-Middle East (M-ME) regional coordinator John Leonard Monterona, Jonabel Segador said her aunt OFW Naomi Dela Salde Umacob, 27 years old, from Lupon, Davao Oriental, who works as a housekeeper in Al-Hasa, Saudi Arabia.

OFW Umacob is an elementary education graduate and passed the licensure examination for teacher (LET) on 2007 but was forced to work abroad as she could not find a job and also to help her family.

She was deployed early 2010 by a Manila-based recruitment agency named Asmara International Placement Agency, Inc., according to Jonabel on a phone conversation with M-ME’s Monterona.

“She never mentioned any serious problem on her work or with her employer. Not until the third week of July this year that we can’t contact her anymore, neither her phone nor on her Facebook,” said Jonabel.

Months ago, the family of OFW Umacob received an unconfirmed report that she was imprisoned that prompted her father in Davao Oriental to seek assistance from her recruiter and was told that ‘all are in process’ to assist OFW Umacob.

On 20^th November this year, the family of OFW Umacob received the sad news that she was dead four months ago.

“So painful that it had to be 4 straight months before we knew she was already gone! Police report said she committed SUICIDE. It’s so hard to think that way and we don’t believe she did it to herself. DFA-Mindanao had shown us her ticket that was dated July 22, 2012 which supposedly her flight back home. She was about to be home then she committed it? It’s hard to believe,” Jonable lamented.

OFW Umacob’s family pleaded to DFA regional office in Mindanao to seek for reinvestigation but there were no updates yet given to the family, Monterona citing Jonabel’s email to him.

“We want to know what really happened to her. We strongly believe she was killed,” stressed Jonabel.

Monterona said Umacob’s family in Davao Oriental desperately pleading that the remains of OFW Naomi Dela Salde Umacob will be sent home which until now has not yet been repatriated.

“We are calling the Department of Foreign Affairs and the PH embassy in Saudi Arabia to probe this case and if necessary arrange for reinvestigation as requested by the family,” Monterona added.

Monterona added that the PH embassy should also work and ensure that the remains of OFW Umacob will be repatriated to give her a decent burial according to the wishes of her family in Davao Oriental.

Monterona noted this year his group already monitored 6 cases of OFWs mysterious death working in the Middle East. “On previous years, we have monitored eight to twelve OFWs whose deaths were not factually established and their families doubted the circumstances of their death.”

“The Aquino administration’s promise of providing on-site protection to our OFWs especially Filipino domestic workers remains a promise and is only an empty campaign slogan,” the Saudi-based OFW leader concluded. # # #

References:

Jonabel Segador

niece of OFW victim Naomi Dela Salde Umacob

Mobile No. 0063 922 6013360

John Leonard Monterona

Migrante-Middle East regional coordinator

Mobile No. 00966 543547736

OFW group asked PH govt., ‘What’s the Rapid Response team assessment on Gaza?’

Press Release

22 November 2012

OFW group asked PH govt., ‘What’s the Rapid Response team assessment on Gaza?’

Migrants’ rights group Migrante-Middle East (M-ME) is asking the PH government on what’s the Rapid Response Teams (RRTs) assessment on Gaza.

“We asked this question amid the looming ground invasion on Gaza and continuous attack by the Israeli forces against the Palestinian people,” said John Leonard Monterona, Migrante-Middle East regional coordinator.

Agency France Press (AFP) reported Tuesday that Israel’s air force have dropped leaflets across Gaza City urging people to evacuate their home ‘immediately’ as Israel ground forces are preparing to launch a ground operation.

The said leaflet with writings in Arabic stated, ‘For your own safety, you are required to immediately evacuate your homes and move toward Gaza City centre’.

On November 19, the PH department of Foreign Affairs issued a statement confirming the deployment of Rapid Response Teams (RRTs) in Cairo, Egypt and Tel Aviv in Israel.

Monterona asked the DFA to inform the public especially the kin of Filipinos in Gaza on the assessment of the RRTs so that the latter could convince their loved ones to leave Gaza if necessary.

 “We are concerned on how the RRTs could communicate to our fellow Filipinos in Gaza to convince them to evacuate or leave Gaza for their safety,” Monterona averred.

Monterona noted that at this time it would be very difficult and risky to get inside Gaza. He added that the RRTs should not be on a ‘stand-by mode’.

“The RRTs must be vigilant and must be able to read the situation on the ground as it will be crucial when to start the rescue and evacuation of 100 Filipinos in Gaza to get them out of harm’s way,” Monterona averred.

The group scores the Aquino administration on being silent on the US-led Israel’s ‘overkilled’ attack on the Palestinian people with over a hundred already killed including women and children.

“The Aquino administration didn’t even bother to make an appeal to the Israeli govt. to stop its aggression against the Palestinian people. The Aquino administration should join the international community in condemning Israel,” Monterona concluded. # # #

Reference:

John Leonard Monterona

Migrante-Middle East regional coordinator

Mobile No. 00966 543547736

Filipino domestic workers ask ‘Is Saudi ban already lifted?’

Press Release

22 November 2012

Filipino domestic workers ask ‘Is Saudi ban already lifted?’

Vacationing overseas household service workers (HSWs) from Saudi Arabia and aspiring HSWs are asking if the Saudi ban on the deployment of Filipino HSWs had already been lifted, according to Filipino migrants’ rights group in the Middle East.

Migrante-Middle East (M-ME) regional coordinator John Leonard Monterona said they’re receiving queries from vacationing and aspiring HSWs if the ban on deployment of HSWs to Saudi Arabia had already been lifted.

“There is a confusion because according to the vacationing HSWs and applicants, their recruitment agencies were saying the ban had been lifted, but the POEA is saying otherwise,” Monterona citing the HSWs who have inquired with him through email and Facebook.

Margie R., who has a pending application as HSW, told Monterona that per the recruitment agency where she is applying, the ban was already lifted. “When we went to POEA and asked its officials, we got different replies, thus we were confused”, said Margie.

Another OFW, Linda S., who have been working as HSW for four years in Saudi Arabia told Monterona that she could not come home though her employer had allowed going and celebrating the Yuletide season with her family and relatives in the Philippines.

“Dapat daw may bagong contract ako na nagsasabi ng US$400 ang sweldo ko na pirmado ko, nang employer, at ng local recruitment agency sa Pilipinas at counter-part foreign recruitment agency nito (It’s required to have a new contract stipulating that a US$400 salary signed by me, my employer, and a local recruitment agency and its foreign recruitment agency)”, Linda said on her email to M-ME’s Monterona.

On September 24, 2012 during the celebration of Saudi’s National Day, Saudi’s Ambassador to the Philippines announced that the Saudi and Philippine governments had already reached an agreement to resume the deployment of household service workers (HSWs) to Saudi Arabia.

The Saudi’s ban on the deployment of Filipino HSWs was imposed last year after Saudi govt. received complaints from Saudi employers of the additional requirements such as the imposition of US$400 monthly salary, full address and sketch of a prospective employer, among others, by the PH govt. through its labor offices approving job orders for HSWs.

On October 4, 2012, the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) issued Memorandum Circular No. 08, Series of 2012 outlining the ‘New Guidelines on the POLO accreditation and POEA Regulation of Saudi Recruitment Agencies (SRA) Hiring Filipino HSWs Bound for Saudi Arabia’.

POEA also announced that all HSWs, vacationing and those who are awaiting deployment, will be covered by a ‘New Standard Employment Contract (SEC).

“We came to know that the processing of SEC had been suspended by the POEA, and due to this suspension, POLO offices in Saudi Arabia refused to process the Balik-Mangagawa clearances or OECs of vacationing HSWs,” Monterona said.

Citing POEA records, Monterona said there were at least 12,000 Filipino HSWs deployed in 2010.

“There are at least 12,000 HSWs who want to come home after completion of their contract; but there could be more maybe around 30,000 OFWs in Saudi Arabia who can’t come home because of the suspension of the HSWs standard employment contract by the POEA,” Monterona averred.

 “The PH govt. as a labor exporting country that rely heavily on OFWs remittances, through the DoLE and POEA, is really pressing for the lifting of the Saudi ban on HSWs while hypocritically announcing to the public that in 5-year time it will stop sending HSWs is at a dilemma amid the numerous cases of abuses and labor rights violations,” Monterona noted adding that the PH govt. should intensify its efforts to engage OFW-receiving governments to adhere on international labor standards and sign or ratify international instruments by passing laws and social legislations that recognizes migrant rights and welfare.

Reference:

John Leonard Monterona

Migrante-Middle East regional coordinator

Mobile No. 00966 543547736

31 OFWs victim of labor abuses beg for sustenance

Press Release

18 November 2012

31 OFWs victim of labor abuses beg for sustenance

Some of the 31 OFWs beg for sustenance, taken Nov.8, 2012 Al-Khobar (1)

Some of the 31 OFWs beg for sustenance, taken Nov.8, 2012 Al-Khobar (2)

The 31 OFWs during case dialog with Migrante officials in Al-Khobar, Saudi Arabia

‘Hindi ganun kadali mamalimos (It’s not that easy to beg),’ said some of the thirty-one (31) overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in Al-Khobar, in the eastern region of Saudi Arabia, having no money for sustenance after they collectively decided to stop working a week ago over alleged labor abuses by their employer.

(Attached OFWs photos begging at a street in Al-Khobar, Saudi Arabia)

The 31 OFWs working for Al Khobar-based establishment Al-Hajri & Partners Contracting Co. as trailer truck drivers, heavy equipment operators, and some as mechanics have stopped working last week over alleged numerous labor abuses by their employer, according to migrants’ rights campaigner Migrante-Middle East (M-ME).

“We received written complaints signed by the OFWs through our Migrante colleagues in Al-Khobar after the 31 OFWs sought assistance from us,” said M-ME regional coordinator John Leonard Monterona.

Monterona said the OFWs alleged, as stipulated on their signed complaints, they were victim of contract substitution, illegal salary deduction, salary down grading, no sick leave, no medical and health insurance, delayed salary, they were told to drive even without license, non-payment of overtime work, working for more than 8 hours a day, poor accommodation, they were not given original residence permit or Iqama and verbal abuse from their employer.

The protesting OFWs have already sought assistance from the PH labor officials in Al-Khobar but still awaiting action from the latter, a factor that prompted them to stop working since last week.

Monterona noted that the 31 OFWs will be the 7^th group of OFWs in Saudi Arabia that protested and staged a stop-work-protest against their respective employers since 4^th quarter of last year (2011).

Among them are working for Al Swayeh (88 OFWs), Al-Zahran (48 OFWs), Al-Sabillah (19 OFWs), Al-Dalawi (12 OFWs), Al-Naseeb (17 OFWs), Al-Huraish (12 OFWs), and then the 31 OFWs of Al-Hajri & Partners Co.

Monterona noted that these groups of OFWs have more or less generic complaints against their respective employers that sprung from labor rights violations issues.

“What is quite appalling is the slow, if not failure, to provide assistance by PH labor officials that prompted these groups of OFWs to collectively stop working. On-site DoLE officials are not acting to press the employers to give in to the rightful demands of the protesting OFWs,” Monterona averred.

“If the Aquino govt. could not even uphold and defend Filipino workers’ rights and interests in the country, so how could it be for Filipino workers abroad who have been deprived of their labor rights and welfare? Unfortunately, PNoy administration is anti-labor like the previous administrations,” Monterona lamented.

References:

Arnel D. Manarang

Spokesperson of the protesting 31 OFWs 

Mobile No. 00966 535203342

John Leonard Monterona

Migrante-Middle East regional coordinator

Mobile No. 00966 543547736

OFW group urges PH govt. to start evacuation of Filipinos in Gaza

Press Release

17 November 2012

OFW group urges PH govt. to start evacuation of Filipinos in Gaza

Amid reports of impending invasion of Gaza by Israeli forces, a Filipino migrants’ group in the Middle East calls on the PH government to seriously consider commencing the rescue and evacuation of a hundred of Filipinos living inside Gaza.

“We are urging the Aquino administration through its Foreign Affairs department to start reaching out our fellow Filipinos and their families in Gaza and ensure their evacuation in safe places and to leave Gaza if necessary,” said John Leonard Monterona, Migrante-Middle East regional coordinator.

Monterona said citing reports from Migrante members in Israel, Filipinos are bit worried if the fighting and retaliation of Palestinian fighters against the attack of the Israeli forces will intensify spreading to Jerusalem where most of Filipinos are working and leaving there.

As per records from the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), there are about a hundred of Filipinos including their families in Gaza, while a total of 41,000 Filipinos are in Israel cities of Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, mostly care givers.

Monterona added that the PH post in Tel Aviv should be vigilant and must be able to read the situation on the ground as it will be crucial when to start the rescue and evacuation of 100 Filipinos in Gaza to get them out of harm’s way.

“The buildup of Israel military reservists near the borders of Israel-Gaza is a clear sign of impending ground invasion by the Israeli forces of Gaza and this will certainly wrought atrocities to the Palestinian people,” Monterona noted.

Monterona said Migrante members and the Filipino community in Israel and Gaza were told to take extra care and avoid unnecessary movements and secure their safety while waiting for the rescue and evacuation efforts by the PH embassy in Tel Aviv.

“We appeal to the international community and the UN Secretary General to intervene to put a halt on Israel attacks against the Palestinian people. Per reports, Palestinian women and children were injured and scores of them died due to heavy assault by the Israeli forces,” Monterona averred.

“We also urge the Aquino administration and all peace loving Filipinos to denounce these latest attacks by the Israeli forces against innocent Palestinians,” Monterona ended. # # #

Reference:

John Leonard Monterona

Migrante-Middle East regional coordinator

Mobile No. 00966 543547736

‘PH worsening unemployment debunks government’s plan to stop forced migration phenomenon’

Press Release

15 November 2012

‘PH worsening unemployment debunks government’s plan to stop forced migration phenomenon’

Thus, said today by a Filipino migrants’ rights group in reaction to the latest survey group findings on the state of unemployment in the Philippines.

In a recent published report, the Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey conducted last August 2012 revealed that unemployment rate reached to 29.4 percent in the 3^rd quarter of this year compared from the 26.6 percent last May 2012.

As to gender, the SWS survey showed joblessness increased among women from 36.4 percent in May to 42.5 percent this August and was slightly up among men at 19.3 percent from 18.9 percent in May.

“The recent SWS survey serves a ‘crystal clear’ mirror on the state of unemployment in the Philippines. Notably, it’s not getting better under the Aquino administration,” said John Leonard Monterona, Migrante-Middle East regional coordinator.

He said that the plan of the PH government under the Aquino administration to stop peddling Filipino workers abroad in 5-year time from now is ‘only a wishful thinking in the face of worsening unemployment in the country’.

“The SWS survey on unemployment is a slap on the face of PNoy and its labor honchos who stated that it will stop sending Filipino workers abroad. The reality is, it will continue to do so and even intensify its labor export program by exploring labor markets abroad, no difference from the previous administrations,” Monterona averred.

He noted that there are, on the average, 4,200 Filipinos leaving the country daily for work or looking for jobs abroad compared to the 3,200 two years ago.

“With the worsening unemployment problem, the number of Filipinos forced to leave the country for overseas job will increase to around three to 5 percent from the current base figure of 4,200 daily in two to 3 year time,” Monterona estimated.

Monterona scored the PH labor dept. saying, “The DoLE would make us believe that the unemployment problem is due to ‘job mismatch’. The fact is the Aquino administration performs poorly in generating local jobs with decent pay and benefits primarily due to anti-labor policies such as labor-contracting only, among others.”

Reference:

John Leonard Monterona

Migrante-Middle East regional coordinator

Mobile No. 00966 543547736

Filipino migrants group welcomes suspension of doomed OFW’s execution

Press Statement

14 November 2012

Filipino migrants group welcomes suspension of doomed OFW’s execution

We warmly welcome the decision by the Saudi authorities to suspend the execution of OFW on-death-row Joselito Zapanta. The suspension will certainly bring ease to the worried Zapanta family, while this will give the PH govt. the time and realization of the need to intensify its efforts to save the life of not only OFW Zapanta but as well as the other OFWs in Saudi death row. As to our latest count, there are still 6 of them on death row and a number awaiting final court ruling.

We reiterate our call to the Aquino administration to form a high-level team of diplomats who will be sent to Saudi Arabia to once and for all look into the individual cases and status of OFWs on death row including of OFW Zapanta, so that they can come up legal actions and strategies to concretize it’s efforts saving the lives our doomed fellow OFWs who were, firstly victims of forced migration.

We are urging our fellow OFWs to keep on praying and contribute in any way, small or big, saving the lives of our fellow OFWs in Saudi death row.

Reference:

John Leonard Monterona

Migrante-Middle East regional coordinator

Mobile no. 00966 543547736

‘Send high-level team to save OFWs in Saudi death row’

Press Release

13 November 2012

Appeal letter may not be enough?

‘Send high-level team to save OFWs in Saudi death row’

This was the renewed call made by a Filipino migrants’ right group in the Middle East to the Aquino administration amid the news on the impending execution of an Overseas Filipino worker sentenced to death in Saudi Arabia.

Migrante-Middle East (M-ME) is referring to the case of doomed OFW Joselito Zapanta, 32 yr. old, a native of Mexico, Pampanga.

Zapanta, a father of two, left for Riyadh, Saudi on October 14, 2007 to work as a tile setter. He was not given salary for six months by his first employer.  He then decided to look for another job and employer.  A fellow Filipino helped him get part time jobs.

It was in June 2009 when Zapanta's family received a call from his friend in Saudi.  He informed them that Zapanta was in jail for killing his Sudanese landlord.  According to Zapanta's friend, he was brutally beaten by his landlord because Joselito refused to give his rent for the apartment since his payment is not yet due. 

“We have been repeatedly suggesting to the PH govt. that a high-level team of diplomats will be sent to Saudi Arabia to once and for all look into the individual cases and status of OFWs on death row including of OFW Zapanta, so that they can come up legal actions and strategies to concretize it’s efforts saving the lives of OFWs on death row,” said John Leonard Monterona, Migrante-Middle East regional coordinator.

Monterona added that the aggrieved family of the Sudanese whom OFW Joselito Zapanta killed is standing by their decision to go for beheading. “From the beginning, the Sudanese family is not willing to accept blood money. This was confirmed to me by no less than OFW Zapanta when we talked over a discreet phone call mid-year of 2011,” he added.

“We wonder why the PH govt. through the PH embassy in Riyadh did not seek the assistance of the Saudi Reconciliation Committee (SRC) that normally arrange for the negotiation between the aggrieved family and doomed person in agreeing to accept 'diya' or blood money in exchange of forgiveness just like the case of OFW Rogelio 'Dondon' Lanuza,” Monterona averred.

Monterona expressed doubt on the information that the Sudanese family is willing to accept blood money as it is not yet confirmed and his group is still verifying the said information.

He added that though there was already a final ruling on OFW Zapanta’s case, the Saudi Judicial Supreme Council has opened the case for mediation.

“We hope and pray that the mediation will proceed and eventually succeed to spare OFW Zapanta from execution,” Monterona added.

“We are appealing to the Saudi govt. to reprieve OFW Zapanta to give time for the negotiation of blood money and issuance of forgiveness by the Sudanese family, while we call on the Aquino govt. to intensify its efforts saving the lives of other OFWs in Saudi death row,”Monterona concluded. # # #

Reference:

John Leonard Monterona

Migrante-Middle East regional coordinator

Mobile no. 00966 543547736

OFW group to PNoy: Legal assistance to OFWs should not be selective

Press Release

7 November 2012

OFW group to PNoy: Legal assistance to OFWs should not be selective

Migrants’ rights activist group in the Middle East today scored and reminded President Benigno Simeon Aquiino III that govt. state responsibility in providing assistance to overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) should not be selective.

Migrante-Middle East (M-ME) issued this statement in reaction to the promise by Pres. Aquino that his administration will provide legal assistance to OFW Ruben Kebeng, driver of a fuel tanker that exploded in Riyadh killing 22 people and injured a hundred more.

“Issuing promises of assistance to distress OFWs like of OFW Kebeng is always good to hear. But hearing OFWs repeated plea for govt. assistance because there is no action or dilly-dallying to act is bit frustrating,” said John Leonard Monterona, Migrante-Middle East regional coordinator.

Monterona cited for instance the numerous cases of OFWs in jail. He noted that there are OFWs still languishing in various Saudi jails though they’ve already completed jail terms but could not be released until they’ve paid the private aspect of their case, to pay compensation for loss or damages.

“OFW Jhigs Nuguid case is an example. He was driving a car going to Al-Khobar, Saudi Arabia when its tire exploded hitting two Saudi nationals who died on the spot. He is languishing in jail for almost two years now. The kin of the Saudi nationals are asking for compensation of around P7-M. Nuguid’s family repeatedly sought assistance to DFA but until now no clear reply and action,” Monterona revealed.

OFW Nuguid is detained at Dammam Central Jail in Dammam, eastern city of Saudi Arabia.

Monterona said there are around 120 OFWs still languishing in Saudi jails despite completion of jail term.

“If OFW Kebeng figured out in a not-so-high-profile case, we doubt if PNoy would publicly announce to provide legal aid to him just like the many jailed and distressed OFWs who are repeatedly pleading for govt. assistance,” Monterona concluded. # # #

Reference:

John Leonard Monterona

Migrante-Middle East

Mobile No. 00966 543547736

M-ME urges fellow OFWs to stop issuing speculation on Saudi OFW fuel tanker driver case

Press Statement

5 November 2012

On Saudi authorities’ confirmation that the driver of the fuel tanker that exploded in Riyadh is a Filipino, We appeal on our fellow OFWs to refrain from publicly issuing speculations as it may not help and would only farther confuse the public and the Filipino communities in Saudi Arabia.

However, let’s be vigilant and take extra care for the negative repercussion of this recent development implicating our fellow OFW as the driver of the exploded fuel tanker. We warn our fellow OFWs to stay cool and avoid engaging in case there are hate campaigns against OFWs in the Kingdom.

We call on the PH govt., the DFA and the PH embassy to extend assistance to the Filipino allegedly driving the exploded fuel tanker.

Reference:

John Leonard Monterona

Migrante-Middle East regional coordinator

Mobile No. 00966 543547736

Protesting OFWs demand impartial probe, warns vs. cover-up by PH labor dept.

Press Release

5 November 2012

Protesting OFWs demand impartial probe, warns vs. cover-up by PH labor dept.

The protesting distressed OFWs in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia (photo taken during silent protest at POLO offices, September 2012)

Distressed overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) numbering to 60 who have been occupying the Philippine labor office building in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia for more than a month now warned the Department of Labor and Employment (DoLE) and its adjunct agency, the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) of covering-up their officials from possible administrative sanctions for allegedly neglecting their case against their respective employers.

On October 24, a dialog was held between DoLE officials headed by Usec. Danilo Cruz and POEA chief Hans Cacdac with Migrante International officials and some of the OFW repatriates and their families. DoLE and POEA committed to form a team that will be sent to Saudi Arabia to probe the cases of the protesting distressed OFWs.

“OK samin ang pagpapadala ng DoLE at POEA team nila para imbestigahan ang kaso namin. Pero, binabalaan namin sila na hindi eto cover-up lamang para i-abswelto ang kanilang mga pabayang labor officials na pinabayaan ang aming kaso kaya tumagal (It’s OK for us that DoLE and POEA is sending a team to investigate our case but we warn them of cover-up just to absolve their labor officials who have neglected our case that’s why it’s taking long),” said Absalon Paat, leader of the distressed OFWs, in reaction to DoLE-POEA commitment of sending a team to Saudi Arabia.

On his part, Riyadh-based KGS-Migrante chairperson Eric Jocson said, “We are assisting the distressed OFWs in calculating their claims such as end of service benefits and unpaid salaries. The distressed OFWs conveyed their willingness to file administrative cases against PH Ambassador Ezzadin Tago and Labor Attache Albert Valenciano who, according to the distressed OFWs, have neglected them and if not of their mass actions inside the POLO building, will not bother to attend on their deplorable conditions.”

Though long overdue, Migrante-Middle East (M-ME) regional coordinator John Leonard Monterona expressed doubt over the real purpose of forming a probe team by DoLE-POEA, which will be dispatched in Riyadh and is expected to arrive on November 11.

He, however, suggested that DoLE-POEA team should focus its investigation on the allegations by the protesting distressed OFWs against the alleged neglect and ineptness of labor officials.

“DoLE-POEA’s probe team must speak directly to the distressed OFWs. The investigation must be transparent as its purpose is doubted by the distressed OFWs,” Monterona averred.

On September 2012, around 200 distressed OFWs working for Al-Swayeh, Al Dalawi, Al Zahran and from two other companies staged a 1-day hunger strike. The following day, they peacefully stayed inside the POLO building in Riyadh to press the PH embassy and labor officials to attend on their legitimate demands from their employers such as release of their end of service benefits, unpaid salaries, and immediate repatriation.

Only 65 of them have been repatriated last month.

References:

Eric Jocson, chairperson

KGS-Migrante-Riyadh

Mobile no. 00966 566170173

John Leonard Monterona, regional coordinator

Migrante-Middle East

Mobile no. 00966 543547736