Mas epektibong repatriation program sa mga nagigipit na OFWs, hiniling ng mambabatas

Nanawagan sa pamahalaan ang isang mambabatas para sa mas epektibong programa upang mabilis na maiuwi sa bansa ng mga nagigipit na overseas Filipino workers (OFWs). Ito'y sa harap na rin ng iskandalo tungkol sa umano'y "sex-for-repatriation" na nagaganap sa Middle East.

Sa isang pahayag nitong Huwebes, sinabi ni Gabriela party-list Rep. Luzviminda Ilagan, na ang iskandalo tungkol sa "sex-for-repatriation" ay bunga ng matagal nang pagpapabaya ng pamahalaan sa nagigipit na mga OFW

“The prostitution of OFWs in distress is an offshoot of the government’s long-time neglect of our Filipino migrant workers. After having escaped from abusive employers they now fall prey to equally abusive consulate and labor officials. This is double, even multiple exploitation and abuse,” ayon sa kongresista.

Basahin: Eight more MidEast envoys ordered home amid sex abuse reports

Nitong Huwebes, sinabi ni Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario na walo pang Philippine envoy sa Middle East ang pinauwi sa bansa para sa gagawing konsultasyon kaugnay ng nasabing iskandalo.

Nauna nang pinabalik sa bansa ang mga opisyal ng Pilipinas na nakabase sa Syria, Jordan, at Kuwait upang hingan ng paliwanag tungkol sa umano'y pang-aabuso sa mga Pinay OFW, na ibinunyag ni Akbayan party-list Rep. Walden Bello, chairman ng House committee on overseas workers.

Kasabay ng pagsuporta sa ginagawang imbestigasyon, sinabi ni Ilagan na hindi dapat magwakas ang nasabing iskandalo sa pagpapanagot sa mga nagkasalang opisyal.

"More importantly this exposé should pave the way for efficient delivery of services to distressed OFWs. Kung tutuusin, bukod sa mga labor at consulate officials na sangkot sa sex-for-ticket operations, may pananagutan din ang mga nagpapalala sa sitwasyong kinalalagyan ng mga OFWs,” paliwanag ng mambabatas.

Basahin: Undocumented Pinoys camped out in Saudi clash with embassy staff

Nangangamba si Ilagan na marami pang nagigipit na OFWs ang posibleng maging biktima ng pananamantala ng ilang opisyal dahil na rin sa patuloy na pagdami ng mga tumatakas sa kanilang mga amo tulad ng sitwasyon sa "tent city" sa Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

Kasunod ng paghihipit ng pamahalaan ng Saudi Arabia laban sa mga dayuhan na iligal na nagtatrabaho sa kanilang bansa, mahigit 1,000 OFWs ang nagtungo at nagtayo ng mga text sa labas ng embahada ng Pilipinas sa Jeddah noong nakaraang Abril. -- RP/FRJ, GMA News

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