Migrante slams Conejos’ nomination to IOM

MANILA, Philippines — While Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Esteban Conejos Jr.’s nomination to the International Organization for Migration (IOM) has reportedly been assured of support by African Caribbean Pacific (ACP) countries, Migrante International is not happy.

President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo earlier nominated the official as the Philippines' candidate for deputy director general in the Geneva-based IOM, whose elections will be held June.

Arroyo said Conejos “will bring to the IOM the unique combination of policy expertise backed up by solid operational capability."

Migrante, however, said Conejos’ nomination is nothing to be proud about, citing his alleged bungling as DFA undersecretary in charge of migrant workers affairs.

“Conejos has a proven track record of incompetence and wanton disregard for the plight of millions of OFWs; that if nominated to the global migration body, he would spell disaster not only for OFWs and their families but for migrants the world over," warned Migrante chairperson Garry Martinez in a press statement.
Martinez said that under Conejos’ watch, OFW Jenifer Bidoya was beheaded in Saudi Arabia because he was not provided proper legal assistance by the Philippine government, particularly Conejos’ office in the DFA.

He also claimed that the government bungled the case of OFW Cecilia Alcaraz in Taiwan by not sending any representative during Alcaraz’s crucial hearing last April 1.

The de-facto RP Embassy in Taiwan and Cecilia’s lawyers failed to show up during the hearing because they were “busy," he lamented.

Martinez warned that there are still 40 Filipinos awaiting execution in death rows all over the world and the DFA needs to be on constant alert.

It said the “Arroyo regime should stop campaigning for Conejos to the IOM and focus on saving the life of Cecilia Alcaraz in Taiwan," Martinez said, noting that the Taiwan Appellate Court is scheduled to hand down its final decision on her case May 4, 2009." - D’Jay Lazaro, GMANews.TV

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