11 OFWs in Saudi Face Detention Tomorrow

BY AUBREY SC MAKILAN

Posted 4:15 p.m.  May 11, 2006

The families of abused and stranded overseas Filipino workers in Saudi Arabia called for government’s help for their repatriation, even as President Arroyo is expected to arrive today with the OFWs pardoned by the Saudi King.

In her visit to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Arroyo was able to get pardon from King Abdullah for the 134 OFWs being detained for minor offenses. 

“What about the others left behind?” asked migrant advocates and the families of stranded Filipino migrant workers in a press conference today.

Maita Santiago, Migrante International Secretary-General said that 11 OFWs will go to jail tomorrow in Alkhobar, Saudi Arabia if they fail to pay their employer.

Among the so-called Alkhobar 12 were Eduardo de Silva and Estanislao Madayag Jr. who ran away from their employer.  In January, the 12 charged their employer at a Jeddah court with contract substitution, non-payment of salaries, and illegal termination. The court, however ruled in favor of their employer and ordered each of the 12 to pay 5,564  Saudi riyals to their employer.

De Silva’s wife Lani said that if they failed to pay the amount on May 12, they will be imprisoned.  Her husband and 10 others are being held inside their employers’ barracks, she said.  One of the 12, Joelito Lesma, was able to escape and return to the country through backdoor means.

“Hihintayin pa ba nilang makulong ang mga ‘yun bago sila umaksyon? (Is government going to wait for them to be imprisoned before they act?)” asked the teary-eyed wife.

The OFWs and their families do not have enough money to pay.  Lani said that they were told by officials of the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration that the government has no fund to pay the employer. 

“Their cases are just a few examples of the urgent plight that many Filipino migrants and their families still face,” said Santiago. “Mrs. Arroyo’s so-called ‘pasalubong’ of even around 300 OFWs repatriated addresses nothing about the situation of the many more left behind.”

The families of abused Filipina OFWs Jinalyn Rejano and Editha Orea were also at the press conference.   

Jinalyn was raped on February 14 by seven men (her employer, his family and a staff member at her recruitment agency) while Editha was also abused by her employer.  Although both are now at the Philippine government run shelter, their efforts to obtain justice against their Saudi Arabian employers are dimming.
 
“The DFA says Jinalyn’s case was closed because of lack of evidence but when we spoke to Jinalyn today, she said the case is still open.  While we want her to come home soonest, we also want her rapists imprisoned.  We demand justice,”  said Elmer Rejano, her husband.

According to a DFA 2004 report, there are around 1,841 Filipino migrants detained or imprisoned across the Middle East while 4,429, largely women, are in Philippine government shelters across the region. Bulatlat

 

BACK TO TOP ■  PRINTER-FRIENDLY VERSION  ■   COMMENT

© 2006 Bulatlat ■  Alipato Publications

Permission is granted to reprint or redistribute this article, provided its author/s and Bulatlat are properly credited and notified.