Group slams RP officials for OFW's death in Jeddah
MANILA, Philippines-A Middle East-based migrant workers’ organization urged Philippine embassy officials to reveal the conditions of distressed overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) instead of sugar-coating the situation.
Migrante-Middle East issued the statement on Friday after the Philippine Consulate in Jeddah confirmed that an OFW died in a deportation cell earlier this month.
John Leonard Monterona, Migrante-ME’s regional coordinator said that Philippine officials in the oil-rich states do nothing else but deny or confirm reports.
"Then a lot of excuses will follow," Monterona added.
On Tuesday, Migrante International, the group’s umbrella organization, broke the news that a certain Ryan Castillo, 30, from Batangas City , died under harsh conditions in a Jeddah deportation cell.
Arman Navarro, a dump truck driver in Jeddah who was among the first batch of Filipinos repatriated to Manila this week, said that a friend of Castillo told him that the OFW had long been sick while inside the deportation cell but was not allowed to be sent to a hospital for treatment.
Esteban Conejos Jr, Foreign Affairs undersecretary for migrant workers affairs told GMANews.TV on Thursday that Castillo suddenly collapsed in jail. Responding personnel failed to revive the OFW.
Philippine consul general Ezzedin Tago only confirmed on Thursday that Castillo died on April 6 and admitted that the OFW was unaccounted for as he was not endorsed for deportation.
Castillo reportedly posed as a pilgrim who had lost his identification and turned himself in to expedite his deportation.
Because of this, the consulate was not able to endorse Castillo.
“If this has not been reported by Migrante to members of the Philippine press, Consul Tago will keep mum and would only exert little efforts to ease the deplorable conditions of the distressed OFWs inside the Jeddah deportation center," Monterona said.
Alarming cases of violence
According to Monterona, their group receives an average of three cases from OFWs a day.
“The rights violation committed against our fellow OFWs or even of other nationalities is quite alarming. Everyday, we are receiving E-mails and calls to an average of three cases from OFW victims asking for help and advise on what they should do on their respective cases," he explained.
Unable to receive help from the embassy, OFWs run to Migrante-ME’s Rights and Welfare Assistance Desk for assistance, Monterona claimed.
He added that some Filipino workers narrate how Philippine Embassy and Consulate officials even threaten them to be returned to their employer or send them to jails if they will not accept the so-called “amicable settlement" with their abusive employers.
“This neglectful support system, values and culture prevailing in Philippine Embassies and Consulates should be changed. And this could only be done if all the inept post officials abroad will be fired and be replaced by someone who has a heart and is willing to serve in the promotion and protection of OFWs rights and welfare ," he asserted.
Repatriation of OFWs
Monterona noted that their group has been calling for the immediate repatriation of distressed OFWs in Jeddah almost six months ago.
Most of these OFWs ran away from their ‘abusive’ employers and resided under the Al-Khandara flyover, awaiting arrest from the deportation police. Some of them also worked in Jeddah illegally.
“Six (6) months are a valuable time for the Philippine Consulate in Jeddah to do prove to OFWs and families that it can advance and protect OFWs welfare by immediately sending them home without wait of anything awful that might happen," Monterona said.
Philippine officials in Jeddah earlier explained that the Filipino workers need to secure exit visa’s prior to being repatriated. -Mark Joseph Ubalde, GMANews.TV
Migrante-Middle East issued the statement on Friday after the Philippine Consulate in Jeddah confirmed that an OFW died in a deportation cell earlier this month.
John Leonard Monterona, Migrante-ME’s regional coordinator said that Philippine officials in the oil-rich states do nothing else but deny or confirm reports.
"Then a lot of excuses will follow," Monterona added.
On Tuesday, Migrante International, the group’s umbrella organization, broke the news that a certain Ryan Castillo, 30, from Batangas City , died under harsh conditions in a Jeddah deportation cell.
Arman Navarro, a dump truck driver in Jeddah who was among the first batch of Filipinos repatriated to Manila this week, said that a friend of Castillo told him that the OFW had long been sick while inside the deportation cell but was not allowed to be sent to a hospital for treatment.
Esteban Conejos Jr, Foreign Affairs undersecretary for migrant workers affairs told GMANews.TV on Thursday that Castillo suddenly collapsed in jail. Responding personnel failed to revive the OFW.
Philippine consul general Ezzedin Tago only confirmed on Thursday that Castillo died on April 6 and admitted that the OFW was unaccounted for as he was not endorsed for deportation.
Castillo reportedly posed as a pilgrim who had lost his identification and turned himself in to expedite his deportation.
Because of this, the consulate was not able to endorse Castillo.
“If this has not been reported by Migrante to members of the Philippine press, Consul Tago will keep mum and would only exert little efforts to ease the deplorable conditions of the distressed OFWs inside the Jeddah deportation center," Monterona said.
Alarming cases of violence
According to Monterona, their group receives an average of three cases from OFWs a day.
“The rights violation committed against our fellow OFWs or even of other nationalities is quite alarming. Everyday, we are receiving E-mails and calls to an average of three cases from OFW victims asking for help and advise on what they should do on their respective cases," he explained.
Unable to receive help from the embassy, OFWs run to Migrante-ME’s Rights and Welfare Assistance Desk for assistance, Monterona claimed.
He added that some Filipino workers narrate how Philippine Embassy and Consulate officials even threaten them to be returned to their employer or send them to jails if they will not accept the so-called “amicable settlement" with their abusive employers.
“This neglectful support system, values and culture prevailing in Philippine Embassies and Consulates should be changed. And this could only be done if all the inept post officials abroad will be fired and be replaced by someone who has a heart and is willing to serve in the promotion and protection of OFWs rights and welfare ," he asserted.
Repatriation of OFWs
Monterona noted that their group has been calling for the immediate repatriation of distressed OFWs in Jeddah almost six months ago.
Most of these OFWs ran away from their ‘abusive’ employers and resided under the Al-Khandara flyover, awaiting arrest from the deportation police. Some of them also worked in Jeddah illegally.
“Six (6) months are a valuable time for the Philippine Consulate in Jeddah to do prove to OFWs and families that it can advance and protect OFWs welfare by immediately sending them home without wait of anything awful that might happen," Monterona said.
Philippine officials in Jeddah earlier explained that the Filipino workers need to secure exit visa’s prior to being repatriated. -Mark Joseph Ubalde, GMANews.TV
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