37 abused Pinoy workers in Jordan return to RP

MARK JOSEPH H. UBALDE, GMANews.TV

Three overseas Filipino workers from Jordan were briefly interviewed by the doctor from the Philippine Senate's office upon their arrival at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Wednesday afternoon. - MJU, GMANews.TV(UPDATED 5:08 p.m.) MANILA, Philippines - Thirty-seven overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) from Jordan, including two who are said to be mentally ill, arrived in the Philippines on Wednesday afternoon.

The two mentally ill workers, both in their mid-20s, were flown via Etihad Airways under the sponsorship of Senate President Manuel Villar Jr.

According to Vice Consul Mark Francis Hamoy of the Philippine Embassy in Amman, Jordan, the two ill OFWs are from the provinces of Bulacan and Basilan. Hamoy said the two are possibly suffering from delusions.

However, Dr. Cristeta Cocjin of the Senate Medical Clinic told GMANews.TV that she found the two OFWs showing no signs of mental illness.

"They were able to answer all my questions correctly. I guess they were just really stressed," Dr. Cocjin said.

Meanwhile, another Filipino worker identified as Joan Balangot was also flown home on Wednesday upon the request of her mother.

Full list of OFWs on board the Kuwait Airlines flight
1. Adjak, Faidalyn
2. Ambalgan, Zuhira
3. Balaud, Noria
4. Bantao, Mariza
5. Bellen, Leah
6. Brasuela, Jocelyn
7. Brutas, Shiela
8. Cabasal, Lea
9. Cadiente, Gladis
10. Calma, Nhor
11. Calsib, Marilou
12. Castillo, Ma. Bernadette
13. Claudio, Roddelyn
14. Dela Cruz, Eva
15. Embalgan, Fatima
16. Fajardo, Josephine
17. Fursical, Cydan (documented)
18. Hinting, Nursiya
19. Kasim, Tayan
20. Magnon, Julaida
21. Maitog, Normina
22. Masangya, Josephine
23. Noces, Catalina
24. Parong, Rachelle
25. Parungao, Normita
26. Pimentel, Roselle
27. Ragojos, Mylene
28. Reyes, Glessie
29. Rivero, Annaliza
30. Rosales, Dina (documented)
31. Samra, Anto
32. Samson, Analita
33. Tambalo, Geralyn
34. Yara, Erlinda

GMANews.TVBalangot, who was unable to finish her contract, convinced her employer to allow her to return to the Philippines to care for her ailing father.

According to Villar's office, the senate president has been able to repatriate about 115 Filipino workers - mostly from the Middle East.

Out of the 37 repatriates on Wednesday, 11 were under the care of Villar while the other 26 on board Kuwait Airlines flight number KU411 were repatriated through the help of Vice President Noli de Castro.

According to the Overseas Workers Welfare Administrations (OWWA), these Filipinos were mostly undocumented workers who ran away from their employers because they were reportedly maltreated, unpaid or mentally and physically abused.

Before the repatriation, they were under the care of the Philippine Overseas Labor Offices (POLO) in Jordan after they asked for help from the Office of the Vice President.

Philippine Ambassador to Jordan Julius Torres told GMANews.TV that there are 25,000 Filipino workers in the said Middle East country.

"About 90 percent of them are working as household service workers," he said.

Under the Migrant Workers Act of 1995, the repatriation of distressed or abused Filipino workers must be shouldered by the government through the OWWA fund as well as the Department of Foreign Affairs' assistance to nationals fund.

"However, we welcome any help individuals or private citizens extend to the repatriation of our OFWs. This will help augment what is already appropriated by the government," Torres said. - with reports from Kimberly Jane Tan, GMANews.TV

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