80 ‘duped’ Pinoy bus drivers offered jobs in Dubai - DFA official

MANILA, Philippines - At least 80 of the 137 Filipino bus drivers who were duped into paying money for non-existent jobs in Dubai will finally be able to find employment, an official of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said Wednesday.

Agnes Cervantes, executive director of the DFA’s office of migrants workers affairs, told of the good news during a Senate hearing on the plight of the bus drivers.

Cervantes said she received a call from the consul general in Dubai informing her of the news.

She said 80 of the bus drivers are being considered by Emirates Flight Catering and Qatar Agencies to work for them. The Emirates Flight Catering contacted the bus drivers, she said.

She said the bus drivers were asked to take a test for drivers and if they pass, they will work as drivers. If they fail, they would be given other jobs.

Richard Pardo Boitizon, one of the drivers who was contacted by Emirates Flight Catering, told reporters on the sidelines of the hearing that he would be working as a team member - Grade 2. Boitizon was one of the bus drivers who has returned to the country.

He said he was told that after taking and passing the driver’s test, the company will consider them for the position, subject to availability of jobs..

He said he wanted a disclosure of the case before he returns to Dubai.

Of the 137 Filipino drivers, 115 are still in Dubai while only 22 have been repatriated to the Philippines. - GMANews.TV

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