2008: A Year of Confronting Attacks, Coping with Gov’t Neglect for Filipino Migrants

The year 2008 is replete with different forms of attacks against overseas Filipino workers (OFWs). The year is also marked by the continuing struggle of today’s modern-day heroes not only for their rights and welfare but also against government policies affecting the majority of the Filipino people.

BY RONALYN V. OLEA
YEAREND REPORT – MIGRANTS
Bulatlat

The year 2008 is replete with different forms of attacks against overseas Filipino workers (OFWs). The year is also marked by the continuing struggle of today’s modern-day heroes not only for their rights and welfare but also against government policies affecting the majority of the Filipino people.

Death row

Another overseas Filipino worker was executed in 2008, bringing the number of OFWs executed since 2001 to six.

Venancio Ladion, alias Jennifer Bidoya, 27, was executed in Saudi Arabia in October for the alleged murder of a Saudi national in 2005.

The five other OFWs executed were all from Saudi Arabia. They were Antonio Alvesa, Sergio Aldana, Miguel Fernandez, Wilfredo Bautista and Reynaldo Cortez.

Migrante International, the largest alliance of OFWs said that Bidoya did not receive legal assistance, and was only provided an interpreter and not a lawyer during the early stages of the trial. The group further revealed that Mrs. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo merely sent a letter to the Saudi king to appeal for Bidoya’s commutation.

News of Bidoya’s execution came days before the hosting of the Arroyo government of the 2nd Global Forum on Migration and Development (GFMD).

According to Migrante International, there are 30 OFWs facing death penalty in different countries, mostly in the Middle East. Among them are Gonzales brothers Rolando and Edison and Eduardo Arcilla, Cecilia Armia-Alcaraz, Rodelio ‘Dondon’ Lanuza, among others.

Mysterious deaths

The number of mysterious deaths has also risen. Most of these OFWs allegedly committed suicide but their bodies bore signs of maltreatment and torture. Among of them were Eugenia Baja and Evelyn Milo.

A relative looks at the remains of Evelyn Milo, one of the many OFWs who died a mysterious death. (Photo by Angie de Lara)

The Migrante International chapter in the United Arab Emirates (Migrante-UAE) has expressed alarm over the rise in mysterious deaths of OFWs. The group cited the cases of Roderick Miranda, Norayda Ayuman, Jeffrey Alberto So, Mitos Vergara, Remedios Waayan and Myrna Baylosis.

The United Filipinos in Hongkong (UNFIL-MIGRANTE-HK) also raised questions on the real cause of death of domestic helper Vicenta Flores who was found dead April 11.