Press Release
29 January 2011
Raising serious concern on the volatile situation in Egypt, an alliance of Filipino migrant group in the Middle East today urges the Aquino administration to bare its contingency plan to assist overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) working in the now politically volatile country.
“The volatile political situation in Egypt marred by massive rallies staged by thousands of discontented Egyptian protesters demands a closer look and serious concerns on the part of the Aquino administration as there are about 20,000 OFWs working there including undocumented or illegally overstaying,” thus urged today by John Leonard Monterona, Migrante-Middle East regional coordinator.
There are Filipinos living in Cairo, Alexandria and Suez. Cairo is easier since the PHL Embassy and Airport are there.
Citing international media reports, thousands of Egyptian protesters demanding the ouster of Egypt President Husni Mubarak clashed with local police Friday, which resulted to several casualties on the part of the protesters.
It was reported that the Egyptian government has shut down major communication facilities such as internet and other social major website in its vain attempt to contain the political turmoil in the country.
Monterona said the Presidential Middle East preparedness team headed by former General Roy Cimatu must be tasked to assess the political situation in Egypt and secure the safety of the 20,000 OFWs working in Egypt.
“We are urging the Aquino administration to bare its contingency plan for OFWs in Egypt, if there is any, as the political situation in Egypt had already escalated,” Monterona added.
Solidarity with the Egyptian people
Monterona said his group could very well understand the grounds and motivating factors that led the Egyptian people to protest against its government, specifically demanding the ouster of its president.
“Chapters of Migrante in the Middle East support the Egyptian people in their present struggle against unemployment, economic hardships caused by massive corruption in the government and anti-people economic policies, repression of their political and socio-economic rights, and their struggle for national and social liberation from imperialism and local reactionary regime, as the Filipino people shares the same adverse situation with the Egyptians and other oppressed people around the world,” Monterona averred.
“People’s resistance in Tunisia, and now in Egypt, and maybe in other countries as well is inevitable as their respective governments are becoming repressive causing havoc to the economic and socio-political life of its own people,” Monterona ended.
Reference:
John Leonard Monterona
Migrante-Middle East regional coordinator
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