In reaction, the Asia Pacific Mission for Migrants, a regional migrant center based in Hong Kong, said Cruz’s statement is “insensitive and a very callous insult to those Filipinos who were arrested, detained and deported from South Korea as well as to their families back home.”

The APMM also asked Ambassador Cruz if it is not unusual to arrest pregnant women and men who are sick, and to use electric guns.

Ramon Bultron, managing director of APMM said, “Ambassador Cruz must not turn his back on undocumented Filipinos who are being arrested. Instead, the Philippine Embassy must provide assistance to Filipinos being deported by helping them process their travel documents and access funds for their airfare, and in securing their personal belongings.”

“We would like to remind Ambassador Cruz that those undocumented migrants are also citizens of the Republic of the Philippines and they have been helping save the ailing economy of the Philippines through their remittances. Hence, all the more that they deserve to receive protection and any form of assistance from their own government,” added Bultron.

Government intervention needed

The KASAMMAKO urged the Philippine government to undertake immediate diplomatic and legal intervention to help ensure the rights and welfare of the more than 30,000 migrant workers in South Korea who face imminent deportation due to the intensified crackdown.

The group also said that the Philippine Labor Office (POLO) and the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) in South Korea should inform and make written recommendations to the Philippine Senate and Office of the President on how to respond to the intensive crackdown, and how Filipino undocumented /irregular migrant workers can become legal, regular, or integrated into the regular work force, that is, outside of the framework of deportation and the Employment Permit System (EPS).

Meanwhile, in the light of Malaysia’s recent refusal to grant permanent resident status to undocumented Filipino workers, Regalado warned that a repeat of what happened in 2002 and 2005 are forthcoming.  Regalado said that the Arroyo government should issue “a clear cut policy statement” on how they intend to deal with the impending massive crackdown and deportation of an estimated 500,000 undocumented Filipinos in Sabah.(Bulatlat.com)

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