Even Indonesians, Vietnamese are being harassed in Taiwan

Even Indonesians and Vietnamese are being harassed by some Taiwanese groups over the fatal shooting of a Taiwanese fisherman in Philippine waters last May 9, a Filipino worker there said Monday.

 

Marissa de Guzman, who works at a Taiwan semiconductor firm, said the groups behind the harassment are targeting people who look like Filipinos, even if the victims are of different nationalities.

 

"Magkakamukha kaya minsan napagkakamalang Pilipino, nasasaktan nila," she said in an interview on dzBB radio, when asked about Indonesians being targeted in the incidents of harassment.

 

When asked about reports of Vietnamese also being beaten up, she said, "magkamukha kasi talaga."

 

"Kaya lang sa pananamit ang difference. Mas maganda tayo pumorma," she added.

 

When asked if the situation had improved, she said it has not, at least based on posts on Facebook.

 

"Sa ngayon sa dami ng post sa Facebook, parang nagiging worse din po," she said.

 

Filipinos had been targeted in harassment incidents since a Taiwanese fisherman was shot dead in an encounter between a Philippine surveillance ship and a Taiwanese fishing boat off disputed waters last May 9. 

 

The incident prompted Taiwan to impose sanctions, including freezing the hiring of Filipino workersand imposing a travel alert discouraging travel to the Philippines. 

 

Last Saturday, de Guzman said a fellow OFW in Taiwan had been attacked and injured by a gang of Taiwanese.

 

De Guzman also said that while she had heard reports of some victims getting killed, there had been no confirmation so far.

 

Medical insurance

 

De Guzman also said their employers had advised them not to go out of their dormitories for their safety.

 

She said their employers had promised to shoulder their medical expenses if something happened to them in the factories, while their brokers would shoulder their expenses if they are injured in the dormitories.

 

"Sa labas hindi kami sagot. So kung hindi importante lakad sa labas, huwag muna," she said.

 

De Guzman said the dormitories are relatively well-equipped, with facilities for Internet as well as stores and establishments allowing money tranfers and remittances.

 

Meanwhile, to avoid further trouble, de Guzman said Filipinos communicate with each other using Tagalog.

 

"Nilalaliman lang namin ang Tagalog kasi marunong sila kahit papaano mag-Tagalog. Dapat laliman mo kaunti ... para hindi nila maunawaan," she said. —KG, GMA News