Pacquiao seeks re-examination of PHL labor and foreign policies amid death of Demafelis in Kuwait


By AMITA LEGASPI, GMA News
Senator Manny Pacquiao sought Tuesday a re-examination of the government’s labor and foreign policies and programs amid the continued abuses, exploitation, and deaths of Filipino workers abroad particularly Joanna Daniela Demafelis.
Pacquaio said he filed Senate Resolution 626 urging the Senate committees on labor, employment, and human resources; and foreign relations to conduct an exhaustive investigation into the matter.
“We need to review the policies and responsibilities of government agencies like the Philippine Overseas Workers Administration and Overseas Workers Welfare Administration as they heighten the accountability of recruitment  agencies in our move to prevent abuses as well as combat illegal recruitment and even human trafficking,” he said in a privilege speech.
He said they need to know the extent of abuses and what the government can do to prevent similar incidents from happening.
“Alam natin kung kelan ipinanganak si Joanna ngunit hindi natin alam kung kelan siya namatay. Nariyan ang posibilidad na mahigit isang taon na mula nang siya ay pinaslang,” he said.
The body of the Iloilo-born Demafelis was found in a freezer in an abandoned apartment in Kuwait. Her identity was initially unknown.
A Lebanese man, who sponsored Demafelis, and his Syrian wife left the apartment, their residence, in November 2016 due to charges related to fake checks. Demafelis was allegedly physically abused, got starved, and was not paid for her work.
Pacquiao said the Department of Labor and Employment is still investigating the deaths of Liezl Truz Hukdong, Vanessa Karissha Esguerra, Marie Fe Saliling Librada, Arlene Castillo Manzano, Devine Riche Encarnacion, Patrick Sunga, and Mira Luna Juntilla.
“Ang mga kababayan nating ito ay mga household service workers  na umalis patungong Kuwait noong 2016,” he said.
He urged the public to strongly support the move of President Rodrigo Duterte and the DOLE to suspend the deployment of Filipino workers to Kuwait.
“It is high time that we think about how we can truly provide additional protection upon our overseas Filipino workers and offer economic opportunities in their reintegration in the Philippine society,” he said. — RSJ, GMA News

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