Duterte assures gov’t measures against OFW abuses in Middle East

Manila Bulletin

Published 
By Argyll Cyrus Geducos
President Durerte assured that the government is taking steps to end the abuse suffered by overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in the Middle Eastern countries.
President Rodrigo Duterte answer questions from the media at the Davao International Airport upon his arrival from China and Hong Kong on Friday dawn. (Keith Bacongco)
President Rodrigo Duterte. (Keith Bacongco/MANILA BULLETIN)
Duterte made the assurance during his meeting with Pahima Alagasi, the Filipina worker who was scalded by her employer in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia in 2014. She had just returned to the Philippines last Friday.
A Palace statement said that Duterte, during the Saturday meeting, said the government is willing to do everything to help the Filipinos in the Middle East.
President Duterte added that he could not blame the OFWs if they had to work abroad for their families. However, he reiterated his reminder to OFWs to be careful since the culture and laws in a foreign country are different from that of the Philippines.
The President also said that it was essential to maintain more than just good relations with countries in the Middle East as the region is of “great importance” to the nation.
He also urged the Filipino Muslims who are in the Islamic states to help in protecting the human dignity of their fellow countrymen as he underscored that it is the interest of the Philippines to uphold the welfare and well-being of Filipino workers.
According to Special Assistant to the President Christopher (Bong) Go, President Duterte is delighted with the favorable outcome of the case.
“Natutuwa po kami, lalong lalo na si Presidente Duterte, at natulungan ng Gobyerno si Pahima at naiuwi natin sya dito sa bansa at sa pamilya nya (We are delighted, especially President Duterte, that the government was able to assist Pahima back home to her family),” he said in a statement.
“Patuloy po nating tutulungan ang mga kababayan nating (We will continue helping our) OFWs, in any way we can assist them, be it a legal matter or be it labor and employer-related,” he added.
“Like we have always been saying, the gates of Malacañang are always open and the ears of government officials will always listen to whatever problems our fellow Filipinos are experiencing,” he continued.
Alagasi meanwhile, said she expressed her gratitude to the Philippine government who assisted her with the case.
She said that she was also thankful to then Prince Nayef bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, who had approved her final exit from the Kingdom after a protracted four-year legal battle with her employer.
Meanwhile,the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) gave Alagasi’s two children scholarships up to college. The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) provided P50,000 in cash assistance.

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