Pinoys in US seek justice for trafficked teachers
GABRIELA USA activists from across the country flocked to the Nation’s Capital on October 3, to demand justice for over 300 Filipino teachers who are victims of labor trafficking.
Delegations coming from Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, Seattle and Washington D.C., held a rally in front of the Philippine Embassy, along Massachusetts Ave., accusing the institution of procrastination.
It has almost been a year since the imprisonment of the recruitment agency owner and primary trafficker, Isidro Rodriguez, in the Philippines last November, and since his release last May, he is still at large, the activists said.
“We demand justice and hold Philippine government institutions accountable for allowing such things to happen, as we are still struggling to gain immigration relief in the U.S. and pursue a human trafficking case against our trafficker in the Philippines,” said Janet Gardose, Vice Chair of Campaigns of GABRIELA Washington DC and one of the trafficking survivors.
Last Wednesday, October 1, a group of teachers and activists from GABRIELA USA met with Ambassador Jose L. Cuisia to follow up on promises that he supposedly made for redress in the trafficking case of the teachers.
“Despite the several meetings and attempts to reach out for their help for all of the teachers who have come forward, the process in gaining their support has been bureaucratic and unreliable in responding to the urgent needs of all of the teachers and the countless number of Overseas Filipino Workers lacking protections and experience neglect,” said Jo Quiambao, co-chair of GABRIELA Washington DC.
"We want the same thing"
Philippine Embassy spokesperson Elmer Cato said both GABRIELA and the embassy want the same thing, which is justice for the trafficked teachers. In fact, he told The FilAm Metro D.C., they are hoping to work together on this issue.
“We respect GABRIELA’s advocacy on behalf of some of the trafficked teachers. We both want the same thing–justice for the victims of Isidro Rodriguez,” Cato said.
He said the embassy met with GABRIELA leaders and two teacher-victims last week.
“We assured them of our assistance. We even welcomed the opportunity to work with GABRIELA in assisting the teachers. (Then) two days later, they were rallying outside accusing us of inaction,” said Cato. He added that Ambassador Jose Cuisia met with the activists’ leaders twice — in San Francisco and at the embassy with Labor Attaché Luzviminda Padilla.
Many teachers have filed complaints with the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) in previous years and have not received any recourse to pursue an investigation of poor practices or to ensure migrants are protected, said the advocates. “The teachers have been waiting for the support of their own government since 2008.”
“I’m a victim of human trafficking and I was so scared of Rodriguez because he threatened our lives. For a long time, I was working for $50 for every 24 hours of work, but I needed to sacrifice for my family. I chose to be a GABRIELA member because I was so scared to be alone, and realized that it is important to fight for justice for myself and other victims,” said Rio Cachola of GABRIELA Washington DC.
The policies of the Aquino government will only “exacerbate forced migration in the coming years and will further enable human trafficking without addressing the root causes of forced migration and the lack of protections of migrant workers,” concluded Tina Shauf, Campaigns Officer of GABRIELA USA.
Cato said, “We understand that there are many other victims of Isidro Rodriguez who are in hiding here in the United States and we urge them to step forward so we could help them find justice.”
Since 2006, he said the Philippine embassy has been assisting victims of Rodriguez, a convicted human trafficker. It was also through the embassy’s recommendations that charges were filed against Isidro Rodriguez that eventually led to his imprisonment.
“The Embassy even agreed to waive authentication fees for the documents the teachers had to submit as part of a class suit being filed against Rodriguez in Manila,” said Cato.
The activists concluded the rally with a lively dance in front of the embassy. —The FilAm Metro DC
GABRIELA leaders Nikole Cababa and Valerie Francisco read aloud the People’s Report Card on President Benigno Aquino III. Photo by GABRIELA USA
It has almost been a year since the imprisonment of the recruitment agency owner and primary trafficker, Isidro Rodriguez, in the Philippines last November, and since his release last May, he is still at large, the activists said.
“We demand justice and hold Philippine government institutions accountable for allowing such things to happen, as we are still struggling to gain immigration relief in the U.S. and pursue a human trafficking case against our trafficker in the Philippines,” said Janet Gardose, Vice Chair of Campaigns of GABRIELA Washington DC and one of the trafficking survivors.
Last Wednesday, October 1, a group of teachers and activists from GABRIELA USA met with Ambassador Jose L. Cuisia to follow up on promises that he supposedly made for redress in the trafficking case of the teachers.
“Despite the several meetings and attempts to reach out for their help for all of the teachers who have come forward, the process in gaining their support has been bureaucratic and unreliable in responding to the urgent needs of all of the teachers and the countless number of Overseas Filipino Workers lacking protections and experience neglect,” said Jo Quiambao, co-chair of GABRIELA Washington DC.
"We want the same thing"
Philippine Embassy spokesperson Elmer Cato said both GABRIELA and the embassy want the same thing, which is justice for the trafficked teachers. In fact, he told The FilAm Metro D.C., they are hoping to work together on this issue.
Philippine Embassy spokesperson Elmer Cato: 'Both Gabriela and the embassy want the same thing. The FilAm Metro DC photo
He said the embassy met with GABRIELA leaders and two teacher-victims last week.
“We assured them of our assistance. We even welcomed the opportunity to work with GABRIELA in assisting the teachers. (Then) two days later, they were rallying outside accusing us of inaction,” said Cato. He added that Ambassador Jose Cuisia met with the activists’ leaders twice — in San Francisco and at the embassy with Labor Attaché Luzviminda Padilla.
Many teachers have filed complaints with the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) in previous years and have not received any recourse to pursue an investigation of poor practices or to ensure migrants are protected, said the advocates. “The teachers have been waiting for the support of their own government since 2008.”
“I’m a victim of human trafficking and I was so scared of Rodriguez because he threatened our lives. For a long time, I was working for $50 for every 24 hours of work, but I needed to sacrifice for my family. I chose to be a GABRIELA member because I was so scared to be alone, and realized that it is important to fight for justice for myself and other victims,” said Rio Cachola of GABRIELA Washington DC.
The policies of the Aquino government will only “exacerbate forced migration in the coming years and will further enable human trafficking without addressing the root causes of forced migration and the lack of protections of migrant workers,” concluded Tina Shauf, Campaigns Officer of GABRIELA USA.
Cato said, “We understand that there are many other victims of Isidro Rodriguez who are in hiding here in the United States and we urge them to step forward so we could help them find justice.”
Since 2006, he said the Philippine embassy has been assisting victims of Rodriguez, a convicted human trafficker. It was also through the embassy’s recommendations that charges were filed against Isidro Rodriguez that eventually led to his imprisonment.
“The Embassy even agreed to waive authentication fees for the documents the teachers had to submit as part of a class suit being filed against Rodriguez in Manila,” said Cato.
The activists concluded the rally with a lively dance in front of the embassy. —The FilAm Metro DC
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