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BY BULATLAT

An alliance of overseas Filipino workers’ organizations based in the Middle East has set October 17 as a “Black” Friday to protest against and condemn the Arroyo administration for acting ‘too late with too little efforts to save an overseas Filipino worker from execution.’

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) confirmed the execution of Jenifer Bidoya, Oct. 14. Bidoya was convicted of murder in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

John Leonard Monterona, Migrante-Middle East regional coordinator, said they will wear black shirts and ribbons to demonstrate their disgust against the ‘criminally negligent Arroyo regime.’

The group said the efforts exerted by the DFA and the Philippine Consulate in Jeddah are ‘not enough’ to save Bidoya from execution as the agencies only recommended to Mrs. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to send letters to the Saudi King asking for clemency.

Monterona said the Arroyo administration failed to reach out to the victim’s family. He said the Arroyo government could have asked the help of Muslim leaders in convincing the victim’s family to forgive Bidoya and accept the blood money.

Monterona said he was not surprised at all that the President or the Vice-President did not consider having an official state visit to Saudi to save Bidoya.

“Bidoya and the rest of OFWs are unfortunate to have a negligent Arroyo government that only prioritizes cornering OFWs remittances, and not OFWs well-being and welfare,” Monterona said.

The group further said that the Arroyo administration should be ashamed that it cannot save and defend the rights and welfare of Filipinos working in foreign lands. The Arroyo government will host the upcoming 2nd Global Forum on Migration and Development this month. (Bulatlat.com)