Stronger legal support for OFWs-in-distress sought
MANILA, Philippines - Overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in trouble in their host countries should get legal assistance from government, the House of Representatives said Wednesday.
Quezon Rep. Proceso Alcala filed House Resolution 872 saying OFWs deserve such help for their immense contribution to help the Philippine economy.
"We respectfully urge the Departments of Foreign Affairs, Department of Labor and Employment, and the Overseas Workers' Welfare Administration to assure adequate legal representation to our OFWs who may be facing legal problems in foreign countries," Alcala said in an article on the House of Representatives website.
Alcala cited the latest such incident involving the controversial conviction and beheading of Jennifer "Dodong" Beduya.
Beduya reportedly met his sad fate without due legal representation and support from the government agencies concerned.
"Considering their number, many OFWs from time to time find themselves in trouble, facing criminal charges often involving the penalty of death or life imprisonment," he said.
"Charges against them usually result from self-defense arising from maltreatment, abuse and even rape by their employers," he added.
Yet, Alcala said OFWs have time and again been referred to as the country's modern-day-heroes because of their invaluable contribution to the country's economy.
"This is a matter which we cannot do without especially during these times of financial uncertainty due to global economic difficulties," he said.
Alcala said that in 2007 alone, the country's nine million OFWs remitted a total of $14.4 billion to the economy. Of this, $8.2 billion were remitted by the 3.7 million OFWs in The Americas; $2.4 billion by the 953,519 OFWs in Europe; $2.2 billion by the 2.2 million OFWs in the Middle East; $2.2 billion by the 266,553 sea-based OFWs; $1.5 billion by the 1.2 million OFWs in Asia; $121.4 million by the 362, 014 OFWs in Oceana; and $15 million by the 90,403 OFWs in Africa. - GMANews.TV
Quezon Rep. Proceso Alcala filed House Resolution 872 saying OFWs deserve such help for their immense contribution to help the Philippine economy.
"We respectfully urge the Departments of Foreign Affairs, Department of Labor and Employment, and the Overseas Workers' Welfare Administration to assure adequate legal representation to our OFWs who may be facing legal problems in foreign countries," Alcala said in an article on the House of Representatives website.
Alcala cited the latest such incident involving the controversial conviction and beheading of Jennifer "Dodong" Beduya.
Beduya reportedly met his sad fate without due legal representation and support from the government agencies concerned.
"Considering their number, many OFWs from time to time find themselves in trouble, facing criminal charges often involving the penalty of death or life imprisonment," he said.
"Charges against them usually result from self-defense arising from maltreatment, abuse and even rape by their employers," he added.
Yet, Alcala said OFWs have time and again been referred to as the country's modern-day-heroes because of their invaluable contribution to the country's economy.
"This is a matter which we cannot do without especially during these times of financial uncertainty due to global economic difficulties," he said.
Alcala said that in 2007 alone, the country's nine million OFWs remitted a total of $14.4 billion to the economy. Of this, $8.2 billion were remitted by the 3.7 million OFWs in The Americas; $2.4 billion by the 953,519 OFWs in Europe; $2.2 billion by the 2.2 million OFWs in the Middle East; $2.2 billion by the 266,553 sea-based OFWs; $1.5 billion by the 1.2 million OFWs in Asia; $121.4 million by the 362, 014 OFWs in Oceana; and $15 million by the 90,403 OFWs in Africa. - GMANews.TV
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