Pinoy cab driver in Kuwait in trouble for helping fellow OFWs



Investigation is ongoing on the case of an overseas Filipino worker (OFW) who supposedly helped Filipino domestic workers who are allegedly being maltreated by their employers in Kuwait.
According to an Unang Balita report by Bam Alegre on Thursday, taxi driver Jelamar Fuentes was facing charges for violating the law of Kuwait when he extended help to other OFWs who were planning to escape from their employers.
"Mukhang ang chinarge sa kaniya is parang kidnapping. We will provide the legal assistance for him," said Chargé d'Affaires Mohammad Noordin Lomondot.
The report said Fuentes was using his Facebook account, "Dave," to get in touch with other Filipino workers. In one of the chat messages, an OFW was asking Fuentes to pick her up and help her escape.
The OFW gave her address to Fuentes and promised to pay him for helping her.
Fuentes, who is now under the custody of the Office of the Domestic Welfare Affairs, believes that he did not do anything wrong as he just wanted to help his fellow workers abroad.
"Hinding-hindi talaga ako natatakot. Wala naman ako tinatago na iligal. Wala namang problema basta 'yung kababayan natin natulungan ko lang," Fuentes said.
Early this year, controversial video of the rescue of OFWs by Philippine Embassy staff from their Kuwaiti employers circulated, which caught the ire of the Kuwaiti government, which viewed the act as a violation of its sovereignty and "inappropriate behavior."
A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was then inked by the two countries for the protection of rights and welfare of Filipinos.  —Anna Felicia Bajo/KBK, GMA News

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