OFW accused of stealing a diamond wedding ring to be home soon
A female overseas Filipino worker (OFW) who was accused of purportedly stealing her employer’s diamond wedding ring worth 375,000 Saudi rials, roughly equivalent to P4.4-M, will be released and repatriated soon, according to Migrante-Middle East (M-ME), a Filipino migrants rights’ group actively providing assistance to distressed OFWs.
Migrante-Middle East regional coordinator John Leonard Monterona, on a statement, identified the OFW who was given an alias ‘Rosalinda’, 29 years old, a native of Pililla, Rizal province.
OFW Rosalinda managed to call M-ME’s Monterona asking for assistance as she has been accused of stealing her employer’s diamond wedding ring.
“Napagbintangan po akong magnakaw ng wedding ring worth 375,000 rials. Di ko po talaga ginawa iyon,” Rosalinda told Monterona during the conversation.
Monterona said that he was convinced that OFW Rosalinda did not commit the crime hurled against her.
“We gathered more information from POLO-OWWA official handling her case and other individuals who are privy to the accusation and she swearing to us that she did not steal her employer’s wedding ring were enough reasons for us to believe that she had indeed never committed the crime,” he averred.
Monterona said his group immediately coordinated with the POLO-OWWA officials in Dammam, eastern part of Saudi Arabia, and with the officers of the Saudi Social Welfare Agency (SSWA) branch in Dammam, where Rosalinda has been temporarily seeking refuge.
Monterona said Rosalinda told him that she was brought to Dammam Central jail only for five days, after which she was transferred to SSWA sometime in July.
On August 17, Monterona said he received a short message (SMS) from OFW Rosalinda stating “Everything is settled Sir John. This week, by God’s will, I’ll be home in the Philippines. Thank you.”
“I immediately called her as I am so glad to read her SMS and eager to talk with her over the phone about the good news. She confirmed to me that the SSWA helped mediate with her employer,” Monterona added.
Monterona quoting OFW Rosalinda who told him that her employer agreed to withdraw the case filed against her after SWWA officials promised that it will arrange to raise an amount as payment for the ‘lost’ wedding ring.
“It’s a lucky break for her! We and her family seem to be hopeless since a formal complaint had already been filed in Court,” Monterona disclosed.
“In behalf of the family of OFW Rosalinda, we would like to convey our sincere appreciation to SSWA officials in Dammam who helped her gain her freedom and her eventual repatriation. After all she never committed a crime, so she must be freed!” Monterona concluded.
Ople Center lauds OWWA’s decision to recall welfare officer from Jordan
The Blas F. Ople Policy Center, a non-profit organization that assists distressed overseas Filipino workers, lauded Overseas Workers Welfare Administration Chief Carmelita Dimzon for issuing a recall order for a welfare officer based in Jordan based on individual formal complaints the recently repatriated OFWs lodged.
Aside from five earlier complainants, the Ople Center in partnership with the Sagip OFW Program of Senator Manny Villar, assisted three more complainants in executing sworn affidavits citing Welfare Officer Carmelita Mag-uyon for neglect of duty and gross misconduct.
“The stories of eight repatriated workers were consistent and had a common pattern. They alleged that Welfare Officer Mag-uyon advised them to go back to their abusive employers or pay back the cost of deployment which obviously these women could not afford to do. This goes against the mandate of a welfare officer which is to care for and defend the rights of distressed overseas workers especially those trapped in situations of forced labor trafficking,” Susan Ople, president of the BFO Center, said.
Thea E., one of the three new complainants, said that Mag-uyon sided with her female employer in a meeting to resolve their dispute despite the OFW’s fears for her personal safety after her male employer exposed his private parts to her.
“She (Welfare Officer Mag-uyon) insisted that I go back to work or pay the deployment costs of my employer otherwise I’ll go to prison,” Thea recalled in her affidavit. When she refused, the welfare officer surrendered Thea to the police where she was imprisoned for 11 days. While in prison, Thea was maltreated by members of the Jordanian police and was forced to go back to her employer. Upon her return, she was locked up in a room on the fourth floor of the household.
Thea had to take down the curtains, tie the ends, and use it as a ladder so she could climb down and escape at midnight. She took a cab and headed for the Philippine Embassy at around 1.30 AM. Upon hearing of her plight especially on the hands of the police, the welfare officer treated her more kindly, Thea told the Ople Center.
Another complainant, Wilma S., said she was physically abused by her employers and fed spoiled food and at times, was not allowed to eat at all. This forced her to escape and return to her Jordanian agency. Unfortunately, the agency negotiated with her employers that she would be returned and made to work for one year to pay off the deployment costs. Wilma found a way to escape and seek refuge at OWWA’s Bahay Kalinga in Jordan.
According to the distressed OFW, the welfare officer asked her for $500 as payment for an air ticket to the Philippines. She was also instructed to go to the police station to face charges filed against her by her employers. In the end, the said OWWA officer relented and included Wilma in the list of OFWs whose repatriation costs would be shouldered by her agency.
The Blas F. Ople Center also expressed gratitude to the Office of Senator Manny Villar for providing the eight complainants with a lawyer. “Having a lawyer to guide them and advise them of their rights under the law emboldened these women to file their complaints. Our next step is to help these women get back on their feet again in partnership with the labor department and OWWA,” Ople, a former labor undersecretary, said.
24-hour hotline numbers for OFW families
The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), in cooperation with SMART Communications, has made available a 24-hour Libreng Tawag for families of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) who may wish to talk directly to their relatives in Libya.
Starting 9:00 this Saturday, families of OFWs can go to the south wing lobby of the DFA Main Building in Pasay City to avail of the Libreng Tawag joint public service program, according to its press release.
A crisis management center has also been set-up with 24-hour hotline numbers (834-4580, 834-3245, 834-3240, and 834-4646) at the DFA for families of OFWs who may want to get information about the conditions of their relatives in Libya.
The DFA is on a full relocation and repatriation mode in view of the escalating violence and widespread insecurity in Libya, the statement said.
It is also fully committed to ensuring the safety and welfare of the Filipino nationals in Libya, it further assured.
DFA bans travel to Libya, Bahrain and Yemen
Amid political turmoil in Libya, Bahrain and Yemen, Filipinos are advised to postpone their travels to said countries until the security situation have stabilized, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said today.
The DFA issued this advisory light of protest actions taking place in those countries.
The Philippine Embassies in Tripoli, Manama and Riyadh reported earlier that they are in heightened alert and assured that Filipinos in those countries are safe. DFA officials said they are also in constant contact with them. The Embassies have also established 24-hour crisis monitoring teams. The Embassy in Riyadh covers Yemen.
As of June 2010, there are around 31,000 Filipinos in Bahrain, while 1,400 are in Yemen and around 26,000 are in Libya.
The Embassies have also advised Filipinos to be alert when in public places or on major roads and to stay well away from large crowds and demonstrations.
The Embassy in Tripoli communicated with the human resources manager of SNC Lavelin Company on the situation of some 1,800 Filipino construction workers at an airport construction site in Benghazi city, and was informed that the Filipinos there are safe within the work site which has its own security complement. The worksite is some 19 kilometers from central Benghazi, where the protests are taking place.
According to SNC Lavelin, the Filipinos have accommodations and ample food and water.
The Embassy added that the Thai, Indonesian, Pakistani, Indian and Bangladeshi embassies—which also have sizable populations in Libya—have not announced any evacuation at this time. It is also on heightened alert.
In Libya, clashes between protesters and security forces snowballed on Sunday in the northeastern cities. News reports confirmed 173 deaths.
The Embassy in Riyadh said that it communicated with members of the Filipino community in Yemen, who informed them that the Filipinos in the country are relatively safe, and that malls and all transportation facilities are working normally.
In Yemen, President Ali Abdullah Saleh offered to oversee a dialogue between the ruling party and the opposition to defuse the stand-off with protesters.
Meanwhile, the Embassy in Manama has issued an advisory to Filipinos in Bahrain to remain calm and avoid joining or going in places of protest actions. It has also provided a telephone hotline.
Protest actions continued to cool down in Bahrain Sunday as opposition groups working to present protesters’ demands met to coordinate a response to the government’s call for dialogue.
54 distressed OFWs arrive from Jeddah
Some 54 distressed overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) who were among those who camped beside the Philippine Consulate General in Jeddah arrived at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) last night.
The Philippine Consulate General in Jeddah reported to the Department of Foreign Affairs Office of the Undersecretary for Migrant Workers Affairs (DFA-OUMWA) that the repatriated group consisted of 54 Filipinos who were part of many distressed migrant workers from the Khandara overpass area that the Saudi immigration police took into custody on 2-3 February 2011.
Many of the repatriated OFWs suffered maltreatment from their previous employers or had experiences of contractual substitution and non-payment of salaries, according to the DFA press release.
The Consulate, together with the Filipino community, provided food and basic necessities to the OFWs while they were in Jeddah waiting for their exit visas, the DFA noted.
Representatives from the DFA-OUMWA and from the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration extended assistance to the repatriates at the airport, the press release claimed.
The Consulate made representations with the Saudi authorities for the issuance of the repatriates’ exit visas, the DFA further said.
DFA sets Egypt hotline number
A 24-hour hotline number for relatives of Filipinos in Egypt who would like to inquire about their relatives has been set up at the DFA-Office of the Undersecretary for Migrant Workers Affairs (DFA-OUMWA). Hotline number is 834-4580.
In a press conference hastily called to answer queries about the overseas Filipino workers’ (OFWs) safety in Egypt, Undersecretary Esteban Conejos assured that the DFA has mobilized its offices in Manila and is closely monitoring developments with other government agencies.
A civil uprising against Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak who came to power in 1981 has already been causing violence in Cairo for one week. Clashes between Egyptian protesters and military deteriorated to lootings, prisoners escaping from jail and street fights.
The Philippine Embassy is conducting a phone brigade, calling Filipino community members to check on their condition and to know their whereabouts. The Embassy hotline was also distributed to them should they feel that they are at risk and needed to be moved out, Conejos said.
Philippine Charge d’Affaires Eduardo Pablo Maglaya reported to Secretary Romulo that the current situation on the ground has not changed, and there has been no reports of any attacks targeting foreigners. “There is no imminent danger to the lives of Filipinos there,” the DFA press statement assured.
The Embassy reiterated its advise to the Filipino community to stay indoors, steer clear of public places—especially sites of mass protest—and avoid involvement in political actions
The DFA likewise issued a travel advisory that urges Filipinos who have plans to proceed to Egypt to postpone their visit “until the security situation has stabilized.”
The Philippine Embassy in Cairo meets the leaders of the Filipino community today to confirm their safety and fine-tune their contingency plan, including relocation centers, a review of prepared routes, and other logistical aspects in case the situation worsen and would necessitate an evacuation, according to Conejos.
Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto Romulo also instructed DFA-OUMWA Special Assistant Enrico Fos to implement the contingency measures it has put in place for the Filipino community in aid of the Philippine Embassy in Egypt. Consul General Ezzedin Tago, an Arabic-speaking career foreign service officer of Filipino and Egyptian lineage, is proceeding to Cairo from his current station in Riyadh. Special Envoy Roy Cimatu will also proceed to Egypt after the conclusion of his mission in another country in the region.
At the press conference, the DFA affirmed the availability of P25 million as standby emergency fund for the Egypt crisis. Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) and Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) representatives at the meeting also committed their agencies to set aside additional emergency standby funds.
As provided under Republic Act 8042 or the Migrant Workers Act (as amended by RA 10022), there is a P100-million emergency repatriation fund administered by OWWA that can be used for the crisis, Conejos stated.
Earlier, the Philippine Government called on all parties in Egypt to maintain calm and exercise restraint. It has likewise expressed the hope that the level of violence will not escalate and for an early resolution of this crisis.
34 OFWs arrive home from Madagascar
Some 34 overseas Filipino workers from Madagascar arrived at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) last Sunday, the Department of Foreign Affairs Office of the Undersecretary for Migrant Workers Affairs (DFA-OUMWA) press statement said.
Madagascar is an island down southeast of Africa. Malagasy, French and English are spoken in that country.
They went on strike weeks ago over delayed payment of salaries, non-payment of overtime pay, unsuitable and overcrowded accommodations, among others. Kentz Engineers and Constructors in the Ambatovy Mining site in Tamatave, Madagascar hired them earlier.
Although strikes have ceased, the lack of available flights during the holiday rush previously caused some difficulty in securing flights for the OFWs.
The Philippine Embassy in Nairobi has called the attention of the Kentz Engineers and Constructors to the complaints of the OFWs. The Embassy urged the latter to address them promptly and to give priority to the repatriation of the OFWs awaiting repatriation.
The Kentz Engineers and Constructors assured the Embassy that the company is doing its utmost to address the concerns and will repatriate the workers who wish to go back to the Philippines, the press statement said.
The Embassy is coordinating with the representatives of the workers and the Philippine Society of Madagascar to facilitate assistance to the remaining workers and to ensure that their rights are respected.
The press statement likewise said that the DFA-OUMWA is coordinating with the OFWs’ placement agencies in Manila for appropriate assistance.
The Embassy conducted two consular missions to Madagascar in the previous year. Two embassy officials visited the Ambatovy worksite last October 2010 but then there were no complaints yet about working and living conditions.
Representatives from the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) were present at the NAIA to provide appropriate assistance, the press statement further said.
OFW seeks forgiveness for killing Saudi, claims victim tried to sodomize him
The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) and the Philippine Embassy in Riyadh have been extending assistance to Rodelio Lanusa, an overseas Filipino worker who killed his Saudi co-worker during a drinking spree in August 2000, according to a DFA press statement.
Lanusa claims that he did the offense in self-defense from the drunken advances of the victim who attempted to sodomize him at knifepoint.
He was sentenced to death by qisas (beheading) by the Damman Grand Court (trial court) in May 2002. An appeal is presently pending before the Tameez Court (appellate court). He is being assisted by a lawyer whose services have been engaged by the Embassy.
The imposition of death penalty is presently suspended due to the minority of the victim’s son, who will reach the age of majority in six years. Under Saudi law, the victim’s son is the next of kin who can grant the tanazul.
The hearing on the private rights of the case will resume when he reaches the age of majority.
A Royal Pardon from the Saudi king will only cover the public rights aspect of the case, and the tanazul is needed before the king can grant any pardons, according to the 
press release.
The Embassy is pursuing all avenues to convince the victim’s family to grant the tanazul (affidavit of forgiveness) to settle the private rights of the case.
Last September, Philippine Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Antonio Villamor met with a member of the Saudi royal family, who is also a senior official in the Saudi Eastern Region, to request for his help in arranging a meeting between the Embassy and the victim’s family.
The Ambassador met with other Saudi government officials, who committed to arrange a meeting with the victim’s family for the tanazul.
The Embassy is also extending consular assistance through periodic jail visitations and constant monitoring of the progress of the case.
The DFA, through the Office of the Undersecretary for Migrant Workers’ Affairs, is in constant touch with Lanusa’s family to provide them updates on the case.
Eid Mubarak!
NAGDIRIWANG ang mga kapatid nating Muslim ngayong araw ng tinatawag na Eid Al-Adha o pista ng sakripisyo.
Ito ang pinakarurok ng Haj o banal na paglalakbay (pilgrimage) sa Makkah, Saudi Arabia na isa sa limang haligi ng paniniwalang Islam. Sa araw na ito nagbabatian ang mga Muslim ng “Eid Mubarak!” (Maligayang Eid) bilang pagsasaya sa banal na sandaling ito.
Maraming Pinoy ang hindi masyadong nakaaalam na iisa lamang ang pinaniniwalaang Diyos ng mga Kristiyano at Muslim at ang mga tauhan sa Bibliyang Kristiyano e nasa Qur’an din. Kaya kung tutuusin e konti lang ang talagang hindi pinagkakasunduan ng dalawang relihiyon at iyon e pwede namang pag-usapan nang walang patayan.
Naniniwala rin, halimbawa, ang mga Muslim kay Hesus pero hindi bilang Diyos kundi isang propeta na tulad ni Muhammad at Moses (Mousa). Kung sa tingin ng iba ay panlalait ito kay Kristo, dapat malamang malaki ang pagpapahalaga ng mga Muslim sa kanya, kaya nga pantay sila ni Muhammad.
Si Abraham, na kung tawagin ng mga Muslim e Ibrahim, at ang tangkang pagsakripisyo niya ng anak na si Ishmael (Ismail) ang sentro ng pagdiriwang sa panahon ng Haj. Nagsasakripisyo ang mga Muslim ng tupa tulad ng ginawa ni Ibrahim noon matapos siyang awatin ng Diyos sa pagsasakripisyo ng sariling anak. Pwede na raw ang tupa sa halip na anak.
Napag-uusapan ang sakripisyo, mukhang malaking sakripisyo ang hinaharap ng OFWs dito sa bagong batas tungkol sa kanilang insurance. Maitatanong tuloy kung pinag-isipan ba nang todo ang usaping ito bago ito isinabatas.
Batay sa reaksyon ng mga grupong OFW, mukhang hindi naman nila hiningi ito. Meron lang ilang pulitiko na gustong magpapogi at inakalang matutuwa ang mga OFW kapag binigyan sila ng insurance na “walang gastos.” Ibig sabihin ang mga employer at recruiter ang gagastos.
Ngayon, nagkakaletse-letse ang buong industriya ng labor recruitment. Unang nagreklamo ang mga employer sa ibang bansa gaya ng Hong Kong at Taiwan. May probisyon na raw ang batas nila na bigyan ng insurance ang mga manggagawa nilang dayuhan bakit pa sila papatungan ng bagong gastusin?
Sumunod na nagreklamo ang recruitment agencies. Kung ayaw magbayad ng employers (at hindi naman sila mapipilit dahil hindi naman sila sakop ng batas natin) recruiters ang sasagot. Kaso, mataas daw ang singil sa kanila ng mga kumpanya ng insurance. Tatlong kumpanya ang pinayagan ng gobyernong magbigay ng insurance, pero mga kartel daw sila, sabi ng mga recruiter. Pare-pareho ang singil nila: $72 para sa isang taong kontrata at $144 sa dalawang taong kontrata. Kadalasang dalawang taon ang kontrata ng manggagawa Pinoy sa abroad kaya $144. Kung $300 ang pwede nilang singilin sa paalis na OFW, halos kalahati raw agad ang mapupunta sa insurance company.
Nag-alburoto nga ang recruiters kaya simula kahapon tumigil na silang mag-proseso ng paalis na manggagawa bilang protesta.
Sabi naman ng POEA, wala itong magagawa kundi ipatupad ang batas. Walang lalabas na contract workers nang walang insurance.
Sa bandang huli, mga OFW ang uuwing luhaan dito. Siguradong matutulad ito sa placement fees na dapat e binabayaran ng employer pero sa tunay na buhay e sila ang nagbabayad. Kalaunan, dahil batas nga ito, mapipilitan silang bayaran ito kung gusto nilang magtrabaho sa labas ng bansa. Tsk, tsk.
PALpak
LUMALAKAS daw ang ekonomiya, pero bakit para yatang lalong dumarami ang luhaan?
Nangunguna na riyan ang mga OFWs na umaangal na dahil sa patuloy na “paglakas” ng piso. Di ba kasasabi pa lang ni PNoy na hindi bababa sa P43 ang palit ng piso sa dolyar? Bweno, kahapon e dumayb na ang palit sa P42. Ang babala ng mga bangko e aabot pa ito sa P41 sa Disyembre dahil sa dagsa ng padala ng OFWs sa kanilang mga pamilya. Pero ayaw maniwala ni PNoy at ng mga alalay niya. Tingnan na lang natin.
Kabilang rin sa mga luhaan ngayon ang 2,600 na mga manggagawa ng Philippine Airlines na pinayagan ng Department of Labor and Unemployment na sisantehin. Makatarungan, makatuwiran, makatao at legal daw ang pagsisante sa mga manggagawa, sabi ng pinuno ng DOLE na si Linda Baldoz. Tingnan mo nga naman, sino ang mag-aakalang aastang Kalihim ng Kapitalista ang Kalihim ng Paggawa?
Hindi ito maiisip kahit ni Lucio Tan, sabi nga ng Partido Lakas ng Masa, isang grupong sosyalista (ibig sabihin ay nakikialam sa usapin ng paggawa at lipunan).
Sabi pa ng grupo, pinagmukhang santo ni Baldoz ang may-ari ng PAL. Samantalang nanakot naman ang tagapagsalita ng PAL na kapag hindi sila pinayagang magpatalsik ng 2,600 na mga trabahador, mapipilitan silang magsara at mawawalan ng trabaho ang 7,500 at wala silang matatanggap na separation pay. Matalino ang tagapagsalita ng PAL – naging paborito ko pang newscaster ito – kaya siguradong alam niyang ilegal ang hindi pagbabayad ng mga benepisyo kasama na ang separation pay. Pero wala siyang pakialam, nananakot nga siya e.
Sabi pa ng Partido Lakas ng Masa, gustong magbawas ng PAL ng bilang ng manggagawa para i-subcontract ang trabaho sa mga iregular na trabahador. Noong reporter pa ako nagko-cover ng labor beat, ilegal ang subcontracting pero wala namang kapitalistang natatakot dito. Ginagawa pa rin nila ang gusto nila. Kaya siguro kalaunan e naging legal na rin ito sa kabila ng pagtutol ng mga manggagawa.
Pero kahit legal ang ginagawa at gagawin ng PAL, mali pa ring sabihin ni Baldoz na ito e “makatarungan, makatuwiran at makatao” dahil sa tunay na buhay mapang-api ito, baluktot at makahayop.
Ang nangyayari sa PAL ay nangyayari rin sa maraming kumpanya na SOP ang pagkuha ng mga kontraktuwal na manggagawa, na natural walang mga benepisyo. Hindi ba karaniwan na lang nating naririnig ang mga “permanenteng kontraktuwal” sa mga kumpanya? Iyung sisisantehin kapag malapit nang maging regular, tapos e kukunin ulit o papipirmahin ng bagong kontrata bilang kontraktuwal?
Alam na natin ito pero sasabihin ko pa rin: Ginagawa ito ng kapitalista para mapababa ang gastos at mapalaki ang tubo. At malakas ang loob nilang gawin ito dahil kakampi nila ang gobyerno.