Senator wants probe on Pinay trafficking to Mideast

MANILA, Philippines - Senate President Pro Tempore Jose "Jinggoy" Estrada vowed to probe the alleged well-entrenched white slavery in the country that is responsible for the deployment of some minors to the Middle East.

Senator Estrada said that young Filipinas are being sent to Dubai and other parts of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) for prostitution.

"I will be filing a resolution and we will ask the Bureau of Immigration officials to present themselves before the Senate investigation to know from them why they are allowing minors to work abroad and then as prostitutes. We will also look into the matter why it is easy to get a visit visa for the UAE," Estrada said.

Estrada recently arrived from Dubai and Abu Dhabi to facilitate the return of 20 abused overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) that were under the care of the Philippine Overseas Labor Office-Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (POLO-OWWA).

Three of the 20 Filipinas who were taken back home by Senator Estrada were victims of white slavery syndicates.

He said among those who will be invited during the Senate investigation include the officials of the BI and the Department of Labor and Employment.

Estrada also vowed to launch a fund-raising campaign which he will use to fund the air fares of the remaining abused OFWs presently getting sanctuary at the POLO-OWWA in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and other parts of the UAE.

"I pity the OFWs. I know the difficulties of being away from your family and take care of the children of the people that are not even your relative. I will launch a fund-raising campaign for the distressed OFWs for them to be abel to return to the country," Estrada said.

For her part, Philippine Labor Attache for Dubai Virginia Calvez said that about 500 Filipinos are entering Dubai using a visit visa.

Calvez said the BI, being the one screening Filpinos who are going abroad, should implement a stricter system to prevent Filipinas from landing as prostitutes in the Middle East. - GMANews.Tv

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