buhay.SAUDI.ofw

Congress urged to investigate DFA, OWWA funds

2010-08-10T13:15:00.002+03:00

Congress urged to investigate DFA, OWWA funds in light of delays in repatriation

9 August 2010
PRESS RELEASE:

Migrante International today called on Congress to investigate funds of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) and Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) in light of the scandalous delays and lapses in the repatriation of remains of overseas Filipino workers.

Garry Martinez, Migrante International chairperson, said that there is a need to thoroughly probe where the P50 million and P100 million allotted for repatriation from the DFA and OWWA, respectively, have gone.

“We have been receiving consistent complaints from families of OFWs that they have been asked to shoulder costs for their kin’s repatriation. Walang palya ito. Worse, when sought for assistance, they were informed that is the policy of Philippine embassies to collect autopsy and airfare costs from the families. Saan ngayon napunta ang mga P150 million?” he said.

Martinez said that according to Republic Act 8042 or the Migrant’s Act, it is the responsibility of the employer, the recruitment agency and, ultimately the DFA or OWWA, to shoulder costs for repatriation.

“More often than not, employers and recruitment agencies cannot be depended upon to fulfill this task as the government has no soundproof mechanism to ensure such. It is therefore mandated by the law that the DFA and OWWA are responsible,” said Martinez.

He said that the OWWA has collected an estimated $12 billion in 2010 from the mandatory $25 contributions from OFW members, of which a portion should be earmarked for emergency repatriation. “For undocumented cases, the OWWA forwards processing and implementation to the DFA which also has funds for this purpose.”

The OWWA funds have been subject to numerous cases of misuse of funds from abusive board members. The DFA, on the other hand, has been complaining of alleged lack of funds “but has failed to repatriate remains of OFWs and those in distress over the years”.

Martinez said that there is a need to counter-check if the allotted funds are trickling down to much-needed welfare services and assistance to OFWs. “We call on Congress to audit and investigate these funds in the coming budget deliberations. Lagi na lang itong napapalagpas at hindi napaparusahan ang mga humuhuthot sa pondong dapat ay para sa mga OFW.”

He cited the cases of Mark Lloyd Carmen who was killed in Iran and Marilou Sables who died of cardiac arrest in Taiwan. “Both the families of Carmen and Sables were asked to shoulder expenses for the repatriation of their remains.”

“While the DFA is claiming that costs for the return of Carmen’s remains were paid from its assistance-to-nationals fund, his mother attests that it was in fact a loan from the department and she was expected to pay them back,” he said.

Martinez added, “In Sables’ case, her ashes were brought home three months after she died. Philippine authorities in Taiwan finally exhumed her remains and brought her ashes home after series of protests from OFWs. Until now, however, she is yet to be united with her family in Iloilo because they are now being asked to shoulder shipping costs of her ashes from Manila to the province.”

He also asked the DFA to hasten the repatriation of unclaimed bodies of OFWs in Iraq. “Kung hindi pa iniulat ng kamag-anak sa amin, hindi pa malalaman ito ng DFA,” he said. ##

--

Reference:
Garry Martinez,
Chairperson, 09393914418
Migrante International
http://migrantecampaign.ning.com
http://migranteinternational.org
#10 Banuyo St.Brgy.Amihan, Project 3, Quezon City
Telefax: 9114910

Itigil ang dagdag-singil sa e-passport fee!

2010-08-04T00:01:00.000+03:00

OFW group launches petition-drive vs. e-passport fee hike

04 August 2010
STATEMENT

Migrante International, an alliance of overseas Filipino workers worldwide, today launched a petition-drive calling to put an immediate stop to the recent increase in e-passport fees.

The petition was launched in light of allegations that the contract entered into by the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), headed by Secretary Alberto Romulo, for the procurement of the new e-passport is illegal and tainted with corruption.

Migrante launched the petition drive at the seafarers’ recruitment center in T.M. Kalaw at lunch time today. (Attached is the full text of the petition drive)

Garry Martinez, Migrante International chairperson, said, “This petition drive will convey to the DFA and the government that Filipinos here and abroad are vehemently opposing this most recent fee imposition. Dagdag-pahirap ito sa ating mga OFWs at sa mamamayan.”

Martinez said that they will gather signatures from OFW communities and passport applicants converging in the POEA, OWWA and other passport application centers.

Migrante’s chapters abroad will also be disseminating the petition campaign to OFWs and supporters. OFWs from China, Hong Kong, the Middle East, Canada, Australia, United States, Italy, United Kingdom and other regions have been complaining of the recent e-passport fee hikes.

Signatures gathered will then be submitted to the DFA on August 23, anniversary of the Cry of Pugadlawin.

The new e-passport now costs P950 to P1,200 from P550 to P750 in the Philippines, while e-passport costs have risen abroad to as much as thrice as the previous rates and approximately $6 (USD) more than the fee prescribed for e-passports in the Philippines. ###

Reference:
Garry Martinez,
Chairperson, Migrante International
Tel. No.: +63-939-391418

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
(full text of petition drive)

Itigil ang dagdag-singil sa e-passport fee!
Imbestigahan si DFA Sec. Romulo sa maanomalyang e-passport contract!

Kami, mga mamamayang Pilipino sa loob at labas ng bansa, ay mariing tumututol sa di-makatwiran, maanomalya at walang-abat na pagtaas ng singil sa e-passport.

Ang pagtaas ng singil sa e-passport ay dagdag-pabigat, lalo na ngayong panahon ng krisis. Hindi ito makatwiran dahil pilit na ipinapasa sa mamamayan ang gastusing dapat lamang na karguhin ng gobyerno.

Naglaan ang gobyerno ng P1.4 bilyon sa DFA para sa implementasyon ng proyektong e-passport, labas pa sa P530 milyong inutang ni Romulo sa Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) na nakalaan diumano para sa pagpapagawa ng bagong gusali at mga pasilidad sa Mall of Asia para rito.

Bakit ngayon nagtaas ng singil para sa e-passport kung may nakalaan naman palang pondo ang gobyerno para rito?

Lalong hindi ito makatwiran dahil batbat ng katiwalian, “tongpats” at anomalya ang mismong kontratang pinasok ng Department of Foreign Affairs sa ilalim ni Sec. Alberto Romulo para sa panibagong e-passport. Tinatayang P120 milyon kada taong patong sa presyo ng laminates, o P50 kada laminate, para sa e-passport ang kinitang “tongpats” ni Romulo.

Kung gayon, lalong walang karapatan si Romulo at ang DFA na magtaas ng singil para sa e-passport gayong kinurakot na ang pondo para rito!

Malaking perwisyo rin para sa mga aplikante at mamamayan ang ubod ng bagal, walang sistema at mas pinahirap na proseso para sa application ng e-passport. Nasaan ngayon ang sinasabi ng DFA na para ito sa ikagiginhawa ng mamamayan?

Mariin ang panawagan ng Migrante International, sampu ng mga chapter nito sa loob at labas ng bansa, kasama na ang mamamayang nakapirma sa petisyong ito, na agad na ITIGIL ANG DAGDAG-SINGIL SA E-PASSPORT FEE at IMBESTIGAHAN AT PANAGUTIN SI ROMULO SA PANGUNGURAKOT SA BUWIS NG MAMAMAYAN SA E-PASSPORT CONTRACT. ###

OFWs triumph: Annasban and PERT/CPM, Now Blacklisted!

2010-08-03T16:50:00.003+03:00

OFWs triumph over 2 abusive recruitment agencies
Let this serve as a warning to others - Migrante International

Statement
August 3, 2010

Migrante International Garry Martinez today commended the vigilance of at least 300 overseas Filipino workers who have been granted their petition demanding the suspension of two abusive recruitment agencies.

The Philippine Overseas Employment Agency (POEA) released notices of suspension and resolutions dated April 10 and July 13, 2010 banning Annasban Manpower and PERT/CPM agencies, respectively, from participating in the overseas deployment program following complaints lodged against them by Migrante on behalf of the OFWs from the Middle East.

Since last year, more than 80 Annasban workers have complained of said agency’s breach of contract pertaining to their monthly salaries, benefits and job descriptions as stipulated in their contracts. These have resulted in the OFWs’ request for repatriation.

Meanwhile, 189 SAPTCO bus drivers filed a complaint last April before the Philippine Embassy Overseas Labor Office-Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (POLO-OWWA) in Saudi against recruitment agency PERT/CPM which they accused of conniving with lending agencies. They also complained of overcharging of placement fees, loans with onerous rates, collection of fees without issuance of receipts, false information on employment and compensation and the harassment of their families by the lending agencies.

“The suspensions are a very welcome development and an initial victory for OFWs. These could not have happened if not for the unity and assertion of our OFWs of their rights and demands,” said Garry Martinez, Migrante International chairperson.

Martinez, however, said that the agencies are yet to give the OFWs their rightful monetary claims. “Hindi pa tapos ang laban. The agencies still have to pay our OFWs the monetary claims to which they are entitled.”

The Annasban workers are demanding that they be paid their back wages amounting to an average of P300,000 each, while the SAPTCO bus drivers are demanding a refund of their overcharged deployment fees amounting to at least P80,000 each, among others.

“Let this be a warning to other and all abusive recruitment agencies that our OFWs will not tolerate injustices and abuses. The next step now is to ensure that the POEA effectively and decisively implements the bans,” Martinez said. ###

Reference:
Garry Martinez
Chairperson, Migrante International
+63-939-3914418

Tutulan ang compulsory membership ng mga OFWs sa PAG-IBIG!

2010-08-03T12:13:00.001+03:00

Pahayag sa Media
2 Agosto 2010

Migrante kay P-Noy: Walang mahirap kung walang nagpapahirap
Tutulan ang compulsory membership ng mga OFWs sa PAG-IBIG!

Nakabatay sa makaturungan at rasonableng dahilan ang pagtutol ng Migrante at ng OFWs at kanilang pamilya sa sapilitang pagpapasapi ng mga OFWs sa PAG-IBIG.

Una, matagal ng may housing loan facility program ang Home Development Mutual Fund o kilala sa tawag na PAG-IBIG, para sa mga OFWs. Ito ay optional. Ibig sabihin, nasa desisyon ng OFW at ng kanyang pamilya kung gusto nitong mag-avail ng nasabing housing loan. Nasa desisyon ng OFW at ng kanyang pamilya kung ito ba ay praktikal, mas makakatipid at mas magaan sa bulsa na nakabatay sa kung anuman ang prayoridad ng pamilya. Marami sa mga OFWs ang nagsisikap sa paunti-unting ipon nakakapagtayo ng bahay sa kanilang mga probinsya.

Sa paglabas ng POEA Memorandum No.06, Series of 2010 nitong 1 Agosto lamang, iniutos ang sapilitang pagpapasapi sa mga OFWs sa PAG-IBIG, inalis nito ang karapatang mamili kung ano ang mas angkop base sa pangangailangan ng pamilyang OFW. Akala ba namin ay demokrasya? Demokrasya ba itong walang malaganap na kunsultasyon tapos pipilitin kami?

Pangalawa, sapilitan nga ito dahil sa ikinabit ang bayarin sa pagkuha ng Overseas Employment Certificate or OEC. Kailangan ang OEC, sa katunayan resibo ito kung ano ang mga kaakibat na bayarin at siningil ng gubyerno sa OFWs, para makaalis ang OFW papunta sa bansang destinasyon para ‘magbanat ng buto’.

Kung walang OEC, ibig sabihin kung hindi ka nagbayad ng P1,164 OWWA membership, P900 Philheath, at P100 para sa processing fee at idinagdag na ang P600 para sa paunang 6 buwan PAG-IBIG coverage, hindi makakalis ng bansa ang OFW para magtrabaho sa ibang bansa. Hindi ba ito paglabag sa karapatan namin na mabuhay at maghanap buhay? Ginagawa na kaming parang bagay na pinagtutubuan at pinagkakakitaan. Tao kami hindi kalakal na pinapatungan ng mga buwis o taripa sa porma ng mga sapilitang fees.

Pangatlo, ang compulsory coverage sa PAG-IBIG ay maituturing na buwis na dagdag pahirap lamang sa mga OFWs sa kabila ng marami nang mga singilin at bayarin na ipinitaw ang gubyerno, sa kabila ng patuloy na pagtaas ng presyo ng mga pangunahing bilihin. Lumalabas na dagdag na buwis ito dahil sa ginawa itong compulsory at di-makatuwirang ikinabit sa pagkuha ng OEC.

Pang-apat, may alinlangan tayo sa patakarang compulsory coverage ng OFWs sa PAG-IBIG dahil sa batbat ng alegasyon ng kurapsyon at misuses at mis-alokasyon ng pundo ang PAG-IBIG. Hindi naman basta-basta na ipapa-ubaya natin ang ating pinaghirapan sa mga kamay lang ng kung sinung kurap na opisyal ng PAG-IBIG. Silang mga opisyal ng PAG-IBIG na nagpapasasa sa ating kontribusyon na tumatanggap ng malalaking sahod at sobrang benepisyo. Walang kasegurauhan na bumalik sa atin ang ating perang pinaghirapan! Sabi nga ng marami pagnag-loan ka, ikaw pa ngayon ang nagka-utang eh samantalang kontribusyon mo ito. Di ba’t pag-gisa nga ito sa sariling mantika, wika nga.

Sa hirap ng buhay sa ngayon, dapat maging wais na tayo!

Wais tayo dahil sama-sama nating tututulan ang anumang dagdag na bayarin na pilit sinisingil sa atin ng gubyerno, sa kabila ng salat o wala namang mainam na serbisyo at program para sa ating mga OFWs at pamilya.

Wais na ang OFWs na nagsasabing “Walang mahirap kung walang nagpapahirap!”

Tutulan ang compulsory coverage ng mga OFWs sa PAG-IBIG!
Tutulan ang dagdag na singil sa Pasaporte!
Tutulan ang mga di makatarungan bayarin at singilin na ipinapataw ng gubyerno sa OFWs !
Serbisyo hindi perwisyo!

-Migrante-Middle East at mga kasaping balangay nito
2 Agosto 2010

Reference:
John Leonard Monterona
Migrante-Middle East regional coordinator
Mobile No. 00966 564 978012

HK OFWs present ten-point demands

2010-06-28T17:03:00.002+03:00

Aquino admin urged to undo anti-migrant policies of GMA regime
HK OFWs present ten-point demands

Press Release
27 June 2010

For reference:
Dolores T. Balladares
Chairperson, Tel. No.: 97472986

“Undo Arroyo’s regime of neglect and extortion.”

This was the challenge posed by Dolores Balladares-Pelaez, chairperson of the United Filipinos in Hong Kong (UNIFIL-MIGRANTE HK) to soon-to-be installed President Noynoy Aquino who is scheduled to get inducted to the highest office in the country this Wednesday.

The statement was issued in a press conference held at Chater Road, Central conducted by the group together with other alliances and organizations to make public the ten-point agenda of Filipino migrants in Hong Kong “President-elect Noynoy Aquino can start fulfilling his promise for positive change by, first and foremost, scrapping Arroyo’s policies to OFWs that transformed us as cash cows of her corrupt regime and made concrete services to us mere pipe-dreams,” Balladares said.

One of the foremost demands that the OFWs called for President-elect Aquino to act on is the “overpriced” e-passport issued in Hong Kong. Balladares said that said passport is three times the price as that in the Philippines.

“Why should passports here be ridiculously more expensive than back home? Passport price is the prerogative of the president and Aquino can very well set it if he wishes to,” she remarked.

Aside from this, Balladares also mentioned the OWWA Omnibus Policies, implemented in 2001, as another policy that worsens the condition of OFWs. She reported that said policy further constricted the benefits that OFWs can avail of from the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) through the General Financial Assistance Program.

“For more than nine years, the Arroyo regime has given nothing but misery to the OFWs. Arroyo abused her executive power using the billions of pesos OWWA funds as her piggy bank. To achieve this, she put in position her own people to ensure the smooth flow of money to finance her own interests,” Balladares-Pelaez stressed.

Balladares also hit the POEA Guidelines for Hiring Filipino Household Service Workers that she said removed placement fees to recruitment agencies while allowing for even bigger fees through the training it has imposed to new overseas Filipino domestic workers. The Arroyo government further subjected OFWs to the whims of recruitment agencies through the ban on direct hiring it implemented last year.

“It is time to correct the sins committed by the Arroyo regime! President-elect Noynoy can set the tone of his promised humane and just governance,” Balladares-Pelaez stated.

Hong Kong Filipinos cast their vote of confidence and trust in Noynoy in the recent national elections placing him number one here. It is incumbent for Aquino, she remarked, to respond to the demands of HK OFWs.

The HK OFWs’ ten-point agenda:

Scrapping of the OWWA Omnibus Policies;
Scrapping of the Ban on direct hiring;
Scrapping of the POEA Guidelines;
Reduce the cost of passport to the amount similar to the cost in the Philippines;
OEC should be given free of charge;
Reduce the cost of employment contract processing, remove the authentication fee;
Provide free medical and legal services on site;
Release the COMELEC Voter’s ID;
Stop overcharging/illegal collection of recruitment agencies; and
No examination fee for teachers, nurses and midwives abroad.

“We keep watch for the approval of these demands. President-elect Noynoy’s time starts now,” Balladares-Pelaez concluded.

--
The Secretariat
United Filipinos in Hong Kong (UNIFIL-MIGRANTE-HK)
2/F., New Hall, St. John's Cathedral,
4 Garden Road, Central, Hong Kong SAR
Tel. (852) 31562447 Fax. (852) 25262894
E-mail: secretariat@unifil.org.hk
Website: http://www.unifil.org.hk
Blog: compatriots.blogspot.com
YouTube: www.youtube.com/unifilhk

15 Years since Flor Contemplacion’s Death

2010-03-16T12:03:00.002+03:00

OFWs plight worsened under Arroyo regime

Joint Statement of Migrante Chapters in the Middle East
March 16, 2010

Migrante, OFWs and their families will be commemorating the 15th year death anniversary of Flor Contemplacion, with much vigor and persistence defending OFWs well-being, rights and welfare.

March 17 is considered by many OFWs and their organizations a significant historical event depicting the real plight of overseas Filipino workers that undeniably becomes worst under the Arroyo administration due to its continued neglect and unparalleled disservice to OFWs despite being hailed as ‘Modern Heroes’.

Migrant workers’ contribution in keeping the local economy afloat can’t be denied as their remittances keep on hitting new record of US$ 17.3-B last year that greatly contributed to our country’s dollar reserves -that makes OFWs ‘Modern Heroes’ unto the eyes and minds of the past administrations including the present most anti-OFW Arroyo administration.

Calling OFWs as “Modern Heroes” does not make sense to OFWs and families where the present Arroyo administration continuously neglecting and committing disservice to OFWs by failing to implement genuine policies and programs that would advance and protect OFWs well-being, rights and welfare.

What OFWs and their families got from the Arroyo administration are anti-OFW policies such as the implementation of a codified OWWA Omnibus policies that phased out almost all welfare programs previously availed by OFWs and families including the Family loan assistance; the POEA Memorandum Circular 04 prescribing rules on direct hiring that was challenged by Migrante, OFWs and families; the guidelines on Land-based recruitment and Household service Workers (HSWs) placing OFWs and aspiring alike at the hands of unscrupulous recruitment agencies collecting from OFWs higher fees amounting to P35thousand – P45 thousand each and other additional payments.”

The Arroyo administration failed to develop our local economy that would absorb the increasing numbers of unemployed whose only option now is to find work abroad; it has intensified its labor export program sending some 3,300 daily Filipino workers abroad and is targeting to send 2-M OFWs yearly; and to ensure intensified labor export, it issued Administrative Order No. 247 ordering POEA to focus on marketing and finding markets for

OFWs and have allotted an increased budget of nearly P500,000 for its marketing activities in its effort to boost exporting cheap labor abroad.

Intensified Labor Export at OFWs Expense

So long as this present administration remains to be subservient to the US-dictated policies of globalization (liberalization, deregulation, and privatization) as opposed to nationalization of basic Industries and implementation of genuine agrarian reform, it will miserably fail to develop our local economy and can’t get out of this vicious cycle of economic reliance on foreign loans and labor export at the expense of our Overseas Filipino Workers.

We kept on saying that migrant workers are not commodities but humans whose rights and well-being should be respected and guarded; their welfare should be given foremost importance and consideration by our own government first, setting an example to the host receiving governments.

But the numerous cases of distressed OFWs due to maltreatment, unfair labor practices, and sexual abuses; the recorded 8 mysterious deaths of OFWs in the Middle East early this year, the increasing numbers of runaways at Khandera Bridge in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia and various Filipino Workers Resource Centers (FWRCs) in the Middle East run and managed by different RP post now numbering to about 3,000; the increasing numbers of jailed OFWs and the 26 OFWs facing death in the Middle East; all these tell us one thing: Arroyo administration’s gross disregard to protect OFWs tantamount to criminal neglect!

Misuse of OWWA Fund

OWWA fund is a trust fund pooled from OFWs US$25 membership fee. The Arroyo administration has attempted and it succeeded to a few to divert the use of these funds in a form of investments and creation of task forces presumably to help distressed OFWs abroad during emergency situations and war for OFWs immediate evacuations.

Migrante’s records revealed some of the alleged anomalous investments and misuse of OFW funds under Arroyo administration:
· Transfer of P4B OFW Medicare Fund from OWWA to Philippine Health and Insurance Corporation by virtue of a secret issuance of Executive Order 182 devoid of consultations from OFWs as stakeholders of these funds
· The P260M bogus claims exposed by then OWWA Administrator Virgilio Angelo himself just to justify OWWA Medicare fund transfer to Philhealth under the present Arroyo Administration
· The un-audited US$293,500 for the Middle East Preparedness Team headed by General Roy Cimatu during the US war of aggression to Iraq where repatriation of OFWs never took placed anyway under the present Arroyo administration.
· POEA’s alleged illegally granting of P40 million incentives and allowances to its officials and employees for the past three years since 2002 and allowing its Executives and employees who were issued mobile phones to download about P796,000.00 worth of games, tones and picture messages and other unauthorized items.
· Misallocation of P1-B OWWA funds to its bogus Filipino Expatriate livelihood support program through the issuance of Administrative Order No. 248

OFWs and families at the forefront of defending their rights and welfare

Migrante’s file of the Arroyo administration ‘sins’ to OFWs and families are becoming populated; but OFWs and families will not allow this regime to inflict more injustice and disservice to them.

We will also intensify our campaign urging fellow OFWs to join us in various forms of protests to show our disgusts and discontent to the most anti-OFW Arroyo regime.

Today, we have urged our families and relatives to join the march protest tomorrow, March 17, headed by Migrante International and allied organizations.

As we commemorate the 15th year death anniversary of Flor Contemplacion which symbolizes OFWs persistent struggle advancing its welfare and protect OFWs rights, Migrante chapters and member-organizations in the Middle East vow to reach out more OFWs and families for them to be organized and closely join with the other sectors-- farmers, workers, professionals, government employees, students, laymen and Church workers, and all together will be persistent, once more, in frustrating the Arroyo administration’s evil plans to stay in power beyond her term.

Uphold and defend Migrant rights!

Migrante, OFWs and families keep on struggling for national independence and democracy so that we could live and work decently at home.

Reference:
John Leonard Monterona
Migrante Middle East regional coordinator
Mobile No.: 00966 564 97 8012

OWWA: no ‘word of honor’

2010-03-13T13:41:00.000+03:00

OWWA does not have ‘word of honor,’ says Annasban workers

12 March 2010
PRESS RELEASE

One week after ending their camp-out in front of the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), the repatriated Overseas Filipino Workers from the Annasban Group of Companies today trooped back to picket at the agency’s doorsteps, after the OWWA yet again reneged on most of its promises to the migrant workers.

Of the five demands that were granted by OWWA officials led by administrator Carmelita Dimzon in a negotiation with the Annasban workers and Migrante International last March 5, only the P10,000 financial assistance have been given to the OFWs. From Monday to Wednesday this week, the OFWs tried to claim the promised transportation fare back to the provinces, but they were told by Ms. Cynthia Lamban, head of the Repatriation Assistance Department, that they were not to be given cash (which was requested by the OFWs so that they can schedule their own trips) and that a priority list still had to be drawn up. They also tried to claim the promised free medical assistance, espcially for OFW Florabel Blanca, who fell extremely sick that week. However, OWWA Dir. Saul De Vries said that there are still no guidelines on how to implement the rest of the agreement, and merely advised Blanca to pay for the laboratory tests and medicines out of her own pocket.

“We are fuming mad. We are going back to protest the OWWA because it does not have palabra de honor (word of honor). It is not merely inept; it is deliberately making a fool out of us OFWs. They refused to protect us when we were nearly dying abroad. It seems like they want us to die at the doorsteps of this inutile government agency,” said Joy Flancia, one of the Annasban workers. The OFWs, victims of contract substitution, staged a series of hunger strikes in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia from August last year until February this year.

Other OFWs neglected by OWWA, some of which have several years worth of pending claims, afterwards joined the Annasban workers in their protest. “In the course of our struggle, we met so many OFWs who are like us, and their stories broke our hearts. It made us ever more convinced that this OWWA is an agency merely for the collection of our money, and not for the protection of our welfare. Give us our money back!!!” said Flancia.

The Annasban workers and Migrante International also submitted a letter of complaint to Labor Secretary and OWWA Board of Trustees chairperson Marianito Roque. “We hope that this letter is sufficient enough to the realization of the agreement. Let us settle this in the most diplomatic way or else the OFWs will be again forced to resort to extra-legal means to claim their rightful demands,” said Garry Martinez, Migrante chairperson, in the letter to Roque.

“The case of the Annasban workers has opened a can of worms. More and more victims of OWWA neglect will beseige the agency until the government scraps the OWWA Omnibus Policies. These policies, which since 2003 has severely restricted the assistance the agency gives to OFWs, have been a convenient excuse for OWWA to turn its back on our workers. It is about time to address this problem squarely: scrap the OWWA Omnibus Policies!!!” said Martinez.###

Reference:
Garry Martinez, Chairperson, 09393914418
Ailyn Abdula, Media Officer, 09212708994

On Morong 43:

2010-03-10T16:04:00.000+03:00

Migrant workers group assails CA ruling on 43 health workers, says the victims should be freed

Press Release
10 March 2010

An alliance of Migrant workers group in the Middle East today assails the unfavorable ruling rendered by the Court of Appeals on the habeas corpus petition filed by the 43 health workers and their relatives.

“It seems that even the Court of Appeals is now also afflicted by the prevailing culture of impunity fostered by the Arroyo regime which cited a martial law-old Supreme Court doctrine in justifying its ruling junking the habeas corpus petition filed by the 43 illegally arrested and detained health workers and their relatives,” said John Leonard Monterona, Migrante-Middle East regional coordinator.

Monterona said many legal experts are one in saying that the manner of arrest and continued detention of the 43 health workers is patently illegal and constitute violations on the Constitutional provisions in effecting arrest and detention in respect to the supreme law of the land’s Bill of Rights.

“The junking of the habeas corpus petition is a big blow to the justice system especially in times when the Court’s impartial ruling is needed most, in time where the civil rights and freedom of the people is under attacked by the most anti-people, brutal, and fascist regime,” Monterona added.

“The grim face of the 1972 martial law imposition could easily depicted from the case of the 43 health workers aside from the fact the political repression and persecution among social and political activists unabatedly continues,” Monterona observed.

Monterona said Migrante chapters and other OFW groups and Filipino communities sympathetic to the plight of the 43 health workers are closely watching on the development of their case and their continued illegal detention.

“We are preparing for a massive campaign to get help from the different Filipino communities to demand the release of the 43 health workers and call upon the international community to press hard the Arroyo administration to release the 43 health workers,” Monterona ended. # # #

Reference:
John Leonard Monterona
Migrante-Middle East regional coordinator
Mobile No.: 00966 564 97 8012

GMA solidifies political infrastructure

2010-03-10T15:48:00.001+03:00

Gloria solidifies political infrastructure base with the appointment of new AFP Chief, says Migrant group

Press Release
10 March 2010

An alliance of overseas Filipino migrant workers group in the Middle East today said Mrs. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo who will be ending her 9-year term in the Presidency on July 2010, is observe to be solidifying, in a slowly-but-surely manner, a political infrastructure base that would eventually favor her continued stay in power.

“Because she is the de facto and incumbent President, Mrs. Arroyo with the help of her political spin-doctors, is strengthening the needed political infrastructure base in order to remain in power even beyond her term,” said John Leonard Monterona, Migrante-Middle East regional coordinator.

Monterona said by cleverly exercising her presidential power to appoint, she is now putting in-place officials that are loyal to her, such is the recent appointment of one of her most trusted military officials as AFP Chief of Staff, Lt. Gen. Delfin Bangit.

“She has to take continued control of the AFP, her administration is also seen to be very eager to appoint the next Chief Justice to replace the current and retiring Chief Justice Puno, she is also running in Congress along with other Arroyos, her former Cabinet members are also vying seat in Congress that even the party-lists system they now consider a playing field. This is directed for a single vicious scheme -to take control of the entire government’s bureaucracy,” Monterona observed.

Monterona added this is something our people must be worried about.

“Even peace-loving and patriotic OWFs working abroad seems to notice the ‘ugly’ political developments back home which would turn to be nasty that would lead to political uncertainties and instability especially that the election time comes closer. This scenario would favor Mrs. Arroyo to remain in power,” Monterona added.

Monterona said only a vigilant and well-informed citizenry could avert the vicious scheme of the present administration.

“But how vigilant and informed our people for them to be ready and collectively act to prevent and eventually avert an evil scheme being crafted by the ruling administration? Everyone should take the responsibility of informing others,” Monterona ended. # # #

Reference:
John Leonard Monterona
Migrante-Middle East regional coordinator
Mobile No.: 00966 564 97 8012

Support for Annasban Workers Struggle!

2010-03-09T16:00:00.000+03:00

PRESS STATEMENT
6 March 2010

Government failure to permanently ban abusive recruitment agencies means that many more OFWs will suffer what the Annasban caregivers went through.

As fellow OFWs celebrate the victory gained by Annasban OFWs who staged a three-day protest camp-out in front of the office of the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) in Manila this week, Migrante Aotearoa New Zealand joined their calls for the Philippine government to permanently blacklist their recruitment agencies for their track record of labor contract violations.

While we rejoice that their camp-out forced OWWA to heed some of their demands for compensation, we support their demand for the government to permanently blacklist their recruitment agencies from deploying Filipinos abroad. It must exert all efforts to repatriate the 5 women caregivers who are still in Saudi Arabia .

Migrante Aotearoa also calls to task the Philippine government to strictly monitor and blacklist all other recruitment agencies that collect exorbitant fees and engage in contract substitution. Some nurses who came to work as caregivers in New Zealand complained of such schemes of recruitment agencies that placed them in resthomes with difficult conditions.

Low wages, 12-hour working day, child labor and inhuman working conditions — these were the main reasons why millions of women around the world held protests and why International Women’s Day is officially commemorated every March 8. The plight of the 67 female caregivers who had no days off and were made to work for 12 hours or more daily in Saudi Arabia is a grim testament that under the Philippine government’s labor export thrust, migrant workers especially women are very vulnerable to exploitative working conditions. Their recruitment agencies left them broke as they suffered contract substitution, delayed salaries, illegal deductions and non-payment of overtime pay and other benefits stipulated in their contracts.

We further demand government to scrap the OWWA Omnibus Policies that limit government assistance. Instead of assisting ALL OFWs in need, government agencies neglect those who could not afford to pay OWWA dues. Even for OWWA members, it is deplorable that OFWs hardly get support such as the Annasban OFWs who almost starved to death before they were repatriated. They paid OWWA dues and were qualified for assistance, yet they were forced to stage hunger strike abroad to call government attention.

OFWs around the world who became flat broke after losing jobs have the same tales of government neglect. Those who cannot claim OWWA assistance desperately find ways to afford a plane ticket back home. Isn’t it enough that OFWs and their families have been paying taxes to the government all these years? Why can’t the government at least ensure free air tickets for all distressed OFWs wanting to go home? There are thousands of undocumented non-OWWA members needing urgent assistance, will the government wait for them to be dead before they get any support?

We challenge the next administration ensure decent jobs at home and provide immediate assistance and compensation for distressed OFWs. This March 8, let the voices of Annasban OFWs and all exploited migrants be heard: Proteksyon, hindi koleksyon! Serbisyo, hindi negosyo! Scrap OWWA Omnibus Policies!

Reference:
Dennis Maga
National Coordinator, Migrante Aotearoa New Zealand
____________________________________________________
Migrante Aotearoa | 34 Titirangi Rd, New Lynn , Auckland 1007
+64 9 8276059 |migrante@xtra.co.nz | http://migrante-aotearoa.org.nz/
"Advancing the rights and welfare of Filipinos and other migrants in Aotearoa"

IMA Statement on IWD Centenary

2010-03-08T15:52:00.001+03:00

Further Advance the Rights, Lives and Freedoms of Women Migrants, Immigrants and Refugees!
Let Us Strengthen the Global Movement of Resistance against Imperialism!

Statement of the International Migrants Alliance on the
100th Year of the International Working Women’s Day

The International Migrants Alliance celebrates the 100th year of the International Working Women’s Day by further advancing the causes of our struggling women migrants, immigrants and refugees and joining the growing international people’s movement against imperialist war and plunder, exploitation and oppression.

As we speak, thousands, nay millions, of women migrants, immigrants and refugees the world over are suffering. As abject poverty and the need to survive push them out of their countries and find work abroad, they are further subjected to the most despicable forms of abuse, maltreatment and violence.

Foreign domestic workers, mostly women, continue to be denied of their rights and freedoms. They work more than eight hours a day but are receiving subhuman wages. Days off and rest days are unheard of in many countries with the likes of Malaysia instituting this right only last year. At the receiving end of racial slurs, physical and even sexual abuse, they are the epitome of modern-day slavery as domestic work remains to be unrecognized as work.

Owning half the sky yet receiving the utmost abuse, women migrant workers are most vulnerable. In Central America, women migrants, whether young or old, are raped while they are in transit. They become vulnerable to HIV, like the Bangladeshi women in Arab states. They become easy prey for human trafficking and smuggling.

Women refugees are stripped off their health rights as they are forced to pay high fees to enjoy medical attention. Many of the children they bear are not recognized by the state and henceforth rendered stateless. Most of them even continue to be persecuted not only by governments of their mother countries but of their host countries as well. The planned crackdown in Thailand, for example, aims to target Burmese women refugees as well.

The continued existence of the Global Forum on Migration and Development does not only ignore this abject state of women migrants, immigrants and refugees but justifies it. Ever since its inception in 2007, the GFMD placed labor migration at the center of the neoliberal globalization agenda which only meant one thing: workers are to be exported at the cheapest rate yet without even an iota of rights.

International conventions protecting the rights of women migrants, immigrants and refugees are like dust to continued blows of host governments imposing virulent and oppressive border control policies like that of Fortress Europe. Racial discrimination is being fanned frantically as like those in Italy become easy targets for race-related crimes.

Such conditions strengthen the foundation of why we struggle, of why we need to organize, of why we have the International Migrants Alliance.

There is greater urgency to build organizations for and by women migrants, immigrants and refugees on the ground. With a calibrated attack on our rights, lives and freedoms, we can confront such with collective strength. Victories in the past struggles of women migrants, immigrants and refugees have proven that by collectively asserting our rights and demands, we can prevail.

As the attacks become global, let us strengthen the movement of resistance at the international level. Let the women members of the IMA contribute greatly to the formation of the International Women’s Assembly that shall happen August this year.

The 100th year of the International Working Women’s Day is a reminder that the struggle continues and will be pursued until all structures that oppress and exploit women being perpetrated by imperialism are dismantled.

--

CARAM Asia Statement:

2010-03-08T13:54:00.000+03:00

100 years old women’s day: migrant women robbed off rights
CARAM Asia’s Statement on International Women's Day

KUALA LUMPUR 8 March, 2010: 100 years after the world recognized the role of women in society, women are still robbed off their rights.

On the occasion of the 100th year anniversary of International Women's Day, CARAM Asia calls upon governments in both sending and receiving countries to protect the rights of migrant women who constitute more than half of the migrant population in the world today. CARAM Asia also urges States to invest in the health -including sexual, reproductive and HIV programmes and services - and education of women to ensure that migration becomes a choice rather than a necessity for survival.

In an increasingly globalised world, female migrant workers face intersectional discrimination of class, race, religion, and gender due to statelessness or their irregular status. Neo-liberal strategies have caused the commodification of women’s labour whereby profits rest on women’s labour and sexuality. Influenced by market fundamentalism and pro-capitalism, the business sector prey on women’s labour as a means to gain from a workforce which is unskilled, cheap and deemed as easily subjugated by state and employers. Governments must ensure women are protected against scrupulous agents who sell women’s labour and employers who exploit them.

Women’s labour are either not accorded value or given low value as their labour continues to be viewed as a natural extension of women’s traditional, unpaid role as mothers and care providers contributing solely to social reproduction. Local domestic workers are forced to become part-timers or informal workers without any labour rights, meanwhile their foreign counterparts are hired as live in “maids” which makes them easily controlled by employers. With the advent of globalisation, poverty and the collapse of the rural economy, more women have been pushed out to work mostly in the domestic work sector, either at home or crossing boundaries to take on employment as foreign domestic workers (FDWs). These FDWs are today akin to modern day slaves.

Despite a spate of FDW reported abuse in the media, both Malaysian and Indonesian government have not agreed on ways to improve the working conditions for Indonesian domestic workers.

Negotiations for the new MOU have been going on for over half a year now, but with little transparency and consultation between civil society of both countries. The news that trickles out suggests a lack of reforms and commitments in ensuring that domestic workers are recognized as full workers, with all labour rights accorded to them.

By June this year, the international community with governments, trade unions and employers associations vote for or against the setting up of an international labour standard to grant labour rights to domestic work. CARAM Asia urges states with voting power in the International Labour Organisation (ILO) to cast their vote in support for a Convention supplemented by a recommendation to protect the rights of domestic workers who are predominantly migrant women.

CARAM Asia calls upon States to:

1. Amend existing local laws or enact new laws to be in line with the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of their Families (MWC) and the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW).

2. Extend equal protection of the labour laws to women migrant workers in informal sectors like domestic work. Domestic workers should be granted the rights to a just wage, overtime pay, weekly rest days, benefits, and workers’ compensation.

3. Address the violation of human rights and women’s specific vulnerabilities in the process of migration by providing an empowering environment in both sending and receiving countries where women have job options to work in their country of origin.

4. Ensure migrant women’s access to gender sensitive public health and support services including sexual and reproductive health and rights information and services.

5. Remove mandatory health and pregnancy testing policies and the following deportation of pregnant women migrants, migrants tested positive for HIV and other illnesses.

6. Remove requirement for migrant women to seek destination governments’ permission to marry men in destination countries.

CARAM Asia is NGO in Special Consultative Status with the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations. It is an open network of NGOs and CBOs, consisting of 38 members covering 18 countries in Asia and the Middle East. Visit www.caramasia.org for more information on CARAM Asia.

APMM on IWD

2010-03-08T12:01:00.001+03:00

Statement of the Asia Pacific Mission for Migrants
on the 100th year Anniversary of the International Women's Day

The Asia Pacific Mission for Migrants (APMM) is one with the exploited women of the world in the commemoration of the 100th year of the International Women's Day and in their continuing fight for comprehensive rights in society.

Many of such oppressed women are migrant workers and immigrants including those who are undocumented or in an irregular status. Their conditions have been exacerbated by the failure of neo-liberal globalization and have led to more discriminatory and restrictive policies imposed by governments of labour importing countries.

One such policy is the national verification scheme of Thailand which is a guise to set the stage for a massive crackdown on undocumented foreign workers and refugees which already started in March 3. This would affect a million and a half persons, most of who are from Burma.

In the Middle East and in Taiwan most of those who run away from their employers are female domestic workers who were abused. Instead of being accorded protection and assistance by government authorities, those who were accused by their employers of absconding in the Middle East end up being jailed instead.

While in South Korea, Macau, Malaysia and in many other countries there is no let up in the intensification of the crackdown on undocumented migrant workers many of whom are women. Being in an irregular status makes them criminals in the eyes of these governments. And they have no rights whatsoever and physical and sexual abuse on them is done with impunity.

Even those who offer humanitarian assistance to them like food and shelter are likewise categorized as criminals. In Macau there is a new law being discussed that would make it a criminal offense for one who rents out a flat to undocumented migrants. Ironically, there is another law set to take effect on April 26, 2010 that would push migrant workers to become undocumented. This pertains to a provision which stipulates that if a non-resident worker initiates the termination of a contract without just cause he/she would be banned to work in the territory for 6 months.

Ironically, some of the countries in the region that are some of the most vicious to attack the rights of women are also in the ASEAN formation that will soon come up with a regional instrument on the rights of women and children.

Indeed the lives of these women who toil far from their shores are almost similar to the conditions of working women in industrially developing countries 100 years ago. There is still a lot of effort needed to be done in organizing and empowering migrant women workers including those who are undocumented and in encouraging more people to advocate their cause. Examples of this include the member organizations of KASAMMAKO (a Filipino alliance) and the formation of the Migrants Trade Union (MTU) both in South Korea.

Other than this, we shall advance and continue to develop unities achieved in the formations like the AMMORE or Action Network for Marriage Migrants Rights and Empowerment, the network on undocumented migrants and the Migrants Caucus on the ASEAN

We shall also push the advocacies on domestic workers of the United for Foreign Domestic Workers’ Rights (UFDWR) and contribute to the strengthening and expansion of the International Migrants Alliance or IMA.

We enjoin all grassroots women to actively take part in the establishment of the International Women’s Alliance in August this year. The formation of the IWA shall be another important milestone in the continuing struggle of women for emancipation.

Until the cause for freedom and social justice is achieved, the fire that started in the first International Women’s Day shall continue to burn in the oppressed women of the world,

March 8, 2010

==============================
Asia Pacific Mission for Migrants (APMM)
G/F, No.2 Jordan Road, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR
Tel. no.: (852) 2723-7536
Fax no.: (852) 2735-4559
General E-mail: apmm@hknet.com
Other Email Addresses:Managing Director : director@apmigrants.org / rbultron@gmail.comAdvocacy Program : advocacy@apmigrants.org / rbultron@gmail.comResearch and Publication: publications@apmigrants.org / ahc@hknet.comWomen's Program : women@apmigrants.org / ecbuhay@gmail.com
WEBSITE: http://www.apmigrants.org/

"We dream of a society where families are not broken up by the urgent need for survival. We dream and will actively work for a homeland where there is opportunity for everyone to live a decent and humane life."

Migrante KSA to help send Satur and Liza to Senate

2010-03-06T13:00:00.000+03:00

Press Release
6 March 2010

Most active Filipino migrants’ alliance vows to help send Ka Satur and Liza Maza in the Senate

An alliance of Filipino migrant workers based in the Middle East today vows to help bring MAKABAYAN coalition and NP guest Senatorial candidates Satur Ocampo and Liza Maza to the Senate.

Migrante members in Saudi Arabia yesterday held an outdoor proclamation assembly in Riyadh, central capital of Saudi Arabia formally declaring its support to Satur Ocampo and Liza Maza, both vying for a Senate seat on the May 10, 2010 elections.

“It is an opportune time for Filipino migrant workers and their families to elect patriotic, nationalist, and principled candidates in the Senate -the like of Ka Satur and Liza Maza should be in the Senate,” declared by Eric Jocson, Chairperson of the Riyadh-based Kapatiran sa Gitnang Silangan (KGS), member-organization of Migrante, during yesterday’s proclamation assembly.

Jocson added that Ka Satur and Liza Maza’s proven track records in advancing the interest, rights and welfare of Filipino workers including OFWs could easily be noticed and remembered by the half a million Overseas absentee voters and their dependents in the Philippines.

“Their uncompromising stand defending the rights and welfare of the Filipino migrant workers gave them an edge and advantage compared to other candidates, thus OFWs and their families would vote for them as respected law maker of the Upper chamber of the next Congress,” Jocson added.

On his part, Rodel Makalintal, Migrante-KSA Campaign Officer said starting yesterday after the successful Senatorial proclamation of Ka Satur and Liza Maza in Riyadh; Migrante members will conduct massive electoral campaign and gather supports and votes from the most numbers of OFWs in the Kingdom.

“Since, open electoral exercise is prohibited by the host government, we will conduct discreet house-to-house, going around and visiting the accommodations of our fellow OFWs, distributing flyers and leaflets to our fellow OFWs and conduct indoor meetings amongst our fellow OFWs to discuss our MAKABAYAN platform and other OFWs issues and concerns,” Makalintal added.

John Leonard Monterona, Migrante-Middle East regional coordinator said other Migrante chapters in the Middle East will also conduct their respective proclamation assemblies in support of Ka Satur and Liza Maza in the coming days.

“Members and officers of Migrante in United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, Israel, Jordan and Libya will conduct their own electoral campaign as the overseas absentee voting will commence on April 10, 2010,” Monterona added.

“Since our own party-list, the Migrante Sectoral Party has been delisted by the COMELEC by mere technicality but obviously a political manuever to discredit the most active and most vocal anti-Arroyo OFWs group, we once again will throw our support to Gabriela Womens’ Party for the party-list,” Monterona declared.

Monterona added that they have been working with Gabriela Representative Luz Ilagan for quite sometime on issues and concerns of Filipino migrant women; “We will continue to be working with the most active Women’s partylist group in the next Congress in advancing our Migrants legislative agenda,” Monterona averred.

“In fact, we are looking forward to the formation of Gabriela chapters in Saudi Arabia that is composed of OFW-women victims, run away and distress, in the coming days to come,” Monterona added.

Monterona further said Migrante chapters in the Middle East will also be supporting the tandem of Senators Manny Villar and Loren Legarda.

“Our support to Villar-Loren tandem does not come from nowhere. It is based on principle and platform which we believed theirs is providing a concrete strategy to address the problem of forced labor migration, which is rooted in joblessness and landlessness, this we didn’t find from the other candidates. Sen. Villar has a plan of action on agrarian reform, on the development of local industries, and the protection and upliftment of the working peoples,” Monterona said.

Aside from this, Monterona quoting Migrante International, the largest alliance of OFWs and their families, said the Sen. Manny Villar and Rep. Cynthia Villar have significantly contributed to Migrante’s efforts to empower OFWs and their families through educating them of their basic rights and privileges; they have also extended tangible assistance to migrant workers in distress, giving them opportunities to rebuild their lives. “It is high time that in these elections, the people’s issues and problems including of the Filipino migrants will be the center of one’s choice in electing candidates who are capable of providing solutions to their problems and concerns,” the Saudi-based OFW leader ended. # # #

Reference:
John Leonard Monterona
Migrante Middle East regional coordinator
Mobile No.: 00966 564 97 8012

A Complete Reversal

2010-02-23T16:12:00.001+03:00

Health Alliance for Democracy (HEAD)
2/F Doña Anita Bldg, 284 E. Rodriguez Ave., Quezon City
Telefax: (02) 725 4760
Email: headphil@gmail.com

A Complete Reversal
Statement on the Commemoration of EDSA People Power I
22 February 2010

Today, as the nation commemorates the historic EDSA People Power I uprising, the continuing illegal detention and torture of 43 health workers by the Philippine military stands as a manifest and complete reversal of everything that EDSA I stood for.

While EDSA I ended the Marcos dictatorship and all its attendant evils, the Arroyo regime has restored much of these. Patronage politics and crony capitalism are stronger than ever, albeit called by other names.

Imeldific dinners and lavish spending abroad hog the headlines, while more than half of the population goes hungry. Institutions and processes of our so-called democracy are undermined for political exigencies.

Over the last nine years, we have witnessed not just the decline of our social landscape but also the growing ascendancy of military rule.

Today, the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police continue to disregard the basic tenets of due process and defy even the highest courts of the land. Today, these state security forces remain the top human rights violators in the country.

Today, like the 43 health workers, everyone and anyone can be their victim.

Anyone can be arrested arbitrarily, handcuffed, and blindfolded for almost two days. Anyone can be deprived of sleep, subjected to hours of interrogation, and denied legal counsel. Anyone can be tortured and harassed sexually while under detention.

Anyone, like the 43 health workers, can subjected to the worst forms of abuse and humiliation simply by being accused, through lies and fabricated evidence, as a New People’s Army member.
All of these are with the blessings of Mrs. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, AFP commander-in-chief and highest-ranking civilian authority. Hers is a rule marked by everything that was abominable with the Marcos dictatorship: unbridled greed and corruption, insatiable lust for power, and utter dependence on the armed strength of state security forces.

Today, it is not enough that Filipinos live “lives of quiet desperation”. Regardless of what we are doing, we live under the naked power of the military, like a sword over our heads.

The continuing detention of the 43 health workers is an irony, if not a tragedy, that highlights the meaninglessness of any commemoration of EDSA People Power I. The innocents who suffer will earmark our government’s backward march to history.

This kind of existence is unacceptable. We demand change. We demand respect for our basic liberties and fundamental rights. We demand an end to martial rule.

Free the 43 health workers now.

Dr. Geneve E. Rivera
Secretary-General, 0920 460 3712

Dr. Gene Alzona Nisperos
Vice-Chair, 0927 483 2325

Dr. Darby S. Santiago
Chair, 0927 473 7700

Women OFWs in Saudi Arabia link arms

2010-02-22T11:39:00.002+03:00

to repatriate stranded OFWs and their children immediately and for free!

Women OFWs in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia linked arms on Friday to protest what they claim as government's abandonment of its responsibility to the plight of 'stranded' Filipinos by charging for air-tickets.

Beth Medina, Gabriela Women's Party - Jeddah Chapter Spokesperson, revealed that local Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) staff was charging SAR 400 to SAR 900 per child as payment for their repatriation air-ticket.

Acting on complaints by stranded women, Medina claimed OWWA would not shoulder the cost of air-ticket because the children are "not OWWA members" thus, are not included in the agency's budget for repatriation of 'stranded' overseas Filipino workers.

"This is absurd!" Medina exclaims. "These children of 'stranded' OFWs are already forced in a very vulnerable situation brought about by the "undocumented" status of their parents. These are children of OFWs who have paid their OWWA fees and have contributed in keeping the Philippine economy in more ways than one. What's keeping the government to shoulder their repatriation?"

In a letter sent to OWWA dated 22 February 2010, Medina along with other local Migrante leaders outlined their call to immediately repatriate all, and at no cost to the 'stranded Pinoys'.

"Whether we like it or else, the Philippine government have already benefitted from the ('stranded' Pinoys) in various ways, primarily through the payment of numerous fees and requirements before they left the country and through the remittances that they have made during their stay here in Saudi Arabia," the letter explains further.

Data gathered from various sources by the Migrante Jeddah show there are some 405 'stranded' Pinoys who signified their intent to undergo the 'legal-deportation' process just so they can all go home. The group, housed at Al Mina Center by the Philippine Consulate under the auspices of OWWA Jeddah, includes some 30 children and 19 pregnant women.

This does not include a group of 11 ‘stranded’ Pinoys from Riyadh (six of whom are children) who were recently apprehended by local Immigration authorities. The group was left under Khandara Bridge by a ‘fixer’ who promised to repatriate them. A certain Nasser, who introduced himself as a Case Officer from the Philippine Consulate is reportedly charging SAR 1,300 each for air-ticket.

"Charging the ‘stranded’ Pinoys for airfare, including children, the overstaying Umrah, even those apprehended under the circumstances is a state exaction tantamount to government's abandonment of its responsibility to repatriate those who are most vulnerable," Medina asserts further.

Scrap OWWA Omnibus Policies!

Migrante Jeddah Spokesperson A. M. Ociones meanwhile traced the situation to the OWWA Omnibus Policies implemented in 2004.

"Sadly, this situation can only be traced to its mother, OWWA Omnibus Policies which utterly cut all types of services to OFWs," Ociones explains. "The mindset is that anyone who has not renewed their membership or has abandoned their contract by being abscondees, regardless of the abusive circumstances, do not have any right to any of OWWA programs and services."

"If OWWA would not provide the services to the OFWs, where else would its fund go?" Ociones asserts. "We sincerely hope not to somebody else's pocket." ###

Group sees planned failure of elections

2010-02-22T10:52:00.002+03:00

Group sees planned failure of elections
in HK, Singapore automated polls

22 February 2010
PRESS RELEASE

Leaders of the largest global alliance of overseas Filipino workers’ groups today trooped to the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) office in Intramuros Manila to raise the alarm bells on an impending failure of the slated automated overseas absentee voting of Filipinos in Hong Kong and Singapore.

“The COMELEC’s nonchalance scares us,” stated Migrante International Chairperson Garry Martinez in a press conference outside the COMELEC main office. “Filipinos in Hong Kong and Singapore will start voting in seven weeks, but the COMELEC hasn’t come up with the guidelines on the automated balloting. All it has issued so far are scant information through press releases and media interviews.”

Martinez said the automated OAV guidelines is necessary as the process is completely different from the automated voting and counting here in the country. He said, unlike in the Philippines, Filipinos in Hong Kong and Singapore will be voting for a month (April 10 until May 10, 2010) and each Precinct Count Optical Scan (PCOS) machine will be configured to accommodate 5,000 voters each.

“What will be the COMELEC’s contingency plan in case the machines breakdown in the one month balloting? The COMELEC says transmission of results will only happen at the close of the polls on May 10. Do they have safeguards in place to protect all the votes stored in the machine for an entire month?” asked Martinez.

The Migrante leader also complained of the COMELEC’s deployment of PCOS machines in the two countries. The COMELEC has earlier announced that they will be fielding 30 PCOS machines, four of them spares. But Martinez slammed the poll body’s deployment plan.

“The machines will be open for 10 hours every day for an entire month. Even in the Philippines, we believe the COMELEC and its partner Smartmatic haven’t subjected the PCOS machine to this kind of long and grueling scenario. In short, there’s the real danger that the PCOS machine may not be able to stand and last until the entire process ends. This is aside from the fact that the machines that they’ll be fielding will not be enough given the high risk of breakdowns and other technical glitches in the month long voting,” said Martinez.

With the real risk of machine breakdowns and other problems, Martinez said his group is ‘worried to high heavens’ because the COMELEC has yet to conduct voters’ education among the Filipino community and, most especially, the embassy/consulate personnel who will be tapped to serve as Special Board of Election Inspectors (SBEIs).

In addition, Martinez complained of the non-conduct of mock elections and field tests in HK and Singapore. He said, this crucial part of preparations is needed in order for the COMELEC to determine the potential technical and operational problems in advance and make the necessary corrections in time for the balloting as he recalls the recently concluded mock elections in Quezon City and Taguig, which according to him “was as disaster.”

“Given the risks, we are worried to high heavens because in seven weeks, clueless voters in HK and Singapore will have to entrust their precious votes to clueless personnel mandated by law to man the voting and counting machines. God help us all,” he said.

“All indications lead us to believe that the automation of elections for Filipinos in HK and Singapore is designed to fail. There will be failure of elections and the Arroyo regime – thru the COMELEC – is currently laying the groundwork for this to occur,” maintained Martinez.

Failure of elections, he said, will result to the disenfranchisement of 95,355 Filipinos in Hong Kong and 31,851 voters in Singapore. The combined number, according to him, is equivalent to 20% of the total number of registered overseas absentee voters worldwide which now stands at 589,830.###

------------------------------------------

Reference:
Garry Martinez, Chairperson, 09393914418
Ailyn Abdula, Media Officer, 09158588318

Publish OWWA Funds Statement

2010-02-21T11:12:00.000+03:00

OFW leader, migrant group ask OWWA to publish OWWA funds Statement of Account

Press Release
21 February 2010

A leader of the most active Filipino migrant workers alliance in the Middle East and its members today send a letter to Overseas Workers Welfare Administrator Carmelita Dimzon asking the latter to provide them a recent Statement of Account of the OWWA funds held in trust to the government.

Migrante-Middle East regional coordinator John Leonard Monterona on its letter dated February 21, 2010 sent to OWWA Administrator Carmelita Dimzon invoked that as member of the OWWA, in which he just renewed his membership last February 9, 2010 with Official Receipt No. 5336980, and due to the demands of Migrante members who are also OWWA members requested the OWWA administrator to furnish them a recent copy of the OWWA funds Statement of Accounts.

“What decided us to send a formal letter of request to OWWA Administrator Dimzon to provide us a recent copy of OWWA Funds Statement of Account is out of apprehension that again these funds, a compulsory collection of US$25 per departing OFW, would be misused and diverted for partisan and electoral agenda by the present administration to favor its candidates for the May 2010 elections,” Monterona averred.

On the said letter, Monterona cited the previous ‘anomalies’ and misuses of the OWWA funds such as the P260M bogus claims exposed by then OWWA Administrator Virgilio Angelo himself just to justify OWWA Medicare fund transfer to Philhealth under the present Arroyo Administration, the un-audited US$293,500 for the Middle East Preparedness Team headed by General Roy Cimatu during the US war of aggression to Iraq where repatriation of OFWs never took placed anyway under the present Arroyo administration, the alleged illegal granting of P40 million incentives and allowances to its officials and employees for the past three years (2005 to 2007), the POEA giving permission to its Executives and employees who were issued mobile phones to download about P796,000.00 worth of games, tones and picture messages and other unauthorized items, among others.

“Invoking our rights to know the status of the OWWA funds and in the name of transparency and accountability guaranteed by the basic laws of the land, we demand your good office to provide us the most recent statement of Account of the OWWA funds,” Monterona said on his letter.

Migrante-Middle East also demanded from OWWA Administrator Dimzon to send a copy of the OWWA funds Statement of Account to all RP posts including those in the Middle East and to be posted at their respective offices for the information and knowledge of OWWA-member OFWs before and after the May 2010 elections.

“By doing so, OFWs who are member of OWWA would be assured that their contributions are spared from any partisan and electoral schemes by the ruling administration to advance its own political agenda,” Monterona said. (End) # # #

Reference:
John Leonard Monterona
Migrante-Middle East regional coordinator
Mobile No.: 00966 564 97 8012

From distress to rage:

2010-02-20T11:17:00.001+03:00

Serving migrants and the motherland

By: Migrante International

“They come like an endless stream of water.”

This is how Garry Martinez, Migrante International chairperson, describes the sheer number of migrant workers and their families who troop to the office daily, seeking help. He is proud of the fact that they have never turned anyone away, despite limited resources.

The Migrants’ Assistance Center (MAC) of Migrante, the largest and most militant alliance of OFWs worldwide, handles more than one thousand cases concerning the rights and welfare of migrants each year. These range from cases of illegal recruitment and labor contract violations, to cases of human rights violations involving stranded and detained OFWs, mysterious deaths of OFWs, and rape and sex trafficking of Filipino women.

When Martinez was a new member of the MAC, he knew that there were cases of migrants’ rights violations as he was an “undocumented” OFW himself but he still was unprepared for the gravity of the cases Migrante was handling. It was through these cases that his commitment to work for migrants’ concerns deepened.

‘We may not be earning dollars…’

Like many first-time OFWs, Martinez was also an unknowing victim of illegal recruitment. Hailing from a family of landless farmers in the province of Rizal, he went abroad in 1988 with nary an idea of his rights. Thus, he arrived as an undocumented worker in South Korea and was sold by his recruiter. Martinez was forced to work for 14 hours a day for a textile factory in a cramped and poorly lit basement, with unpaid salaries for up to six months. It was only two years after that he was able to escape his employer, and since then held various jobs as janitor, window cleaner, and garments and furniture factory worker.

It was in 1992 that Martinez first found himself thrust into the limelight as a migrant rights advocate. A fellow garment worker, Lorena Baxa, accidentally burnt herself when the heater exploded. Martinez was among those who rushed her to the hospital, but she was refused admission. The issue inflamed the Filipino community, and Martinez acted as their spokesperson. Since then, “my house was practically turned into an embassy, with 10 to 20 OFWs arriving each day to seek help,” he said. Also president of the Filipino Catholic Community, OFWs would also approach him after mass to tell of their problems.

In 2004, when OFW Angelo dela Cruz was taken hostage in Iraq, Martinez decided to dedicate himself to full-time work at Migrante International back home. In 2008, he was elected as its chairperson. “It is challenging, because I only finished high school, so I initially felt as if I was not equipped with the skills for such a position. But then I realized that my biggest advantage was that I was a migrant worker for such a long time. And nobody can understand an OFW in distress better than one who knew how it was like to be one,” he said.

Gina Esguerra, current Migrante secretary-general and MAC coordinator, also used to be a domestic helper in Hong Kong. In 2003, she returned to the country, after several years of being an organizer for Association of Concerned Filipinos in Hong Kong (ACFIL-HK), one of Migrante’s 136 chapters abroad. Having been treated well by her employer, she doesn’t own a sob story but she has seen how many Filipina domestic workers were being treated unjustly and cruelly and heard their stories through her work in ACFIL “It is difficult to work abroad and become someone else’s slave,” she said.

And so she exchanged the typical OFW’s dream of saving up enough money to build a house for her family, with the more egalitarian dream of building a better society wherein Filipinos wouldn’t have to be torn apart from their families just to have a decent life. “Though we can hardly pay our bills from the little allowance we get from our volunteer work in Migrante, the work is very rewarding,” she mused. “While we may not be earning dollars for our families, at least we are serving OFWs and our country.”

Handling numerous cases

Last year, the MAC handled a total of 1,293 cases. Of these, 413 were brought in by OFWs or relatives of OFWs who heard about Migrante from the radio or byword of mouth from other OFWs who have been helped the organization. The rest were referred by their chapters abroad, mostly from the Middle East.

Esguerra explains that the alliance serves by assisting OFWs in distress or their relatives in asserting their rights and demanding attention from government agencies- including embassies abroad, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) and the Overseas Workers Welfare Authority (OWWA) which normally and deliberately ignore their pleas for help. The concerned Migrante chapter abroad calls the attention or engages with the Philippine embassy and the Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO).

John Leonard Monterona, Migrante-Middle East coordinator, tells of a case in 2008 where an OFW (name withheld) was allegedly raped by her male employer, ran away, and then sought refuge in the Philippine embassy in Riyadh. However, her plea for assistance in filing an appropriate case against her employer was not heeded by the embassy. With permission from the victim and her family, the group issued a statement about her case and exposed the neglect committed by government officials. “The following day, the statement landed in national dailies in the Philippines, as well as in Saudi Arabia and other countries in the Middle East,” he said. “It was only then that the embassy paid attention to the case.”

Instances wherein Migrante, instead of the government, takes the lead in assisting OFWs and publicizing their cases are becoming more frequent. Migrante-Middle East alone handles three to five cases daily, mostly of those who ran away from their employers because of abusive conditions. “They or their relative will call me up even in the wee hours of the morning,” Monterona said. Recently, it was the group who provided food and other basic supplies, even toothpaste, to the 43 caregivers of the Annasban Company in Riyadh who in January conducted a strike to protest various labor contract violations—while pressing the POLO and OWWA to work for their immediate repatriation.

Meanwhile, back home, Migrante urges OFWs to file appropriate charges against their recruitment agencies. Last year, the group assisted in the filing of 109 cases with the POEA and 259 cases with the National Labor Relations Commission (NLRC). Migrante’s MAC staffers personally accompany the victims in hearings and refer them to lawyers. Sometimes, the victims win their case; sometimes they lose.

But it is most painful, said Esguerra, when a victim decides to settle a strong legal case for a paltry amount that government arbiters usually offer. Such was the case of Mylene Mandas, a domestic helper in Kuwait, who arrived at the office in May 2004 with ears bloated like cauliflower and arms burnt from the use of household chemicals. “Her employer regularly beat her and cut her hair every time she was allowed to eat. Her hair used to be long, but when we saw her it was cropped like that of a boy’s,” Esguerra recalled. “I accompanied her to government agencies. But in the end, she settled her case for a measly P4,000 because she could not afford the cost it took to go through with the long and tedious process of seeking justice in this country. Eventually, she applied again for work abroad.”

She, however, doesn’t blame those like Mandas, who are after all, only victims of the vicious cycle of forced migration fostered by the lack of real livelihood opportunities in the country. The government’s aggressive labor export program is no solution, at all, to its deepening bankruptcy and the economic crisis. This is the reason why Migrante does not stop with merely assisting OFWs in distress, but tries to address the root of the myriad problems of migration.

Confrontations and consciousness-raising

It has a comprehensive education program that informs departing workers of their rights. Migrante finds the government’s Pre-Departure Orientation Seminar wanting. “Many workers leave the country unaware that their rights have already been violated in the recruitment process, and are even less oriented on what they can do or where they can go to when they encounter trouble,” said Esguerra.

The group also holds regular discussions with OFWs on the situation of Filipino migrant workers, and critiques the government’s labor export program. This critique—that the program is geared towards milking migrants’ hard-income income through various exactions, and that the government is unable to protect migrants’ rights because of their sheer number and its concern over maintaining good relations with countries opening up their labor markets—was borne out of the experiences of OFWs that it had served.

“In reality, to thousands of OFWs, working abroad is not a personal decision but one forced upon Filipinos,” said Martinez. “Many OFWs realize that they are victims of an unjust system. This realization stirs their soul. They become more politically conscious, and start to question many things that they used to merely accept.”

Being advocates necessarily leads to dealing with, and often becoming confrontational with, government officials that show ineptness or neglect. Martinez, for instance, figured in prominent word wars with DFA and DOLE officials when these officials refuse to provide assistance, or are caught lying through their teeth or dilly dally even when there is an urgent situation such as rescuing an OFW in distress.

The three Migrante leaders all said that sympathy for OFWs goes hand-in-hand with anger, even rage, at the entire system that wrenches Filipinos away from their homes and into lives characterized by “dirty, demeaning, and dangerous” jobs abroad. “Keeping quiet means turning your back on your fellow Filipinos,” said Martinez. Monterona, meanwhile, said that he continues to spend all his free time away from his job in Saudi Arabia for assisting migrants.

Thus, the organization combines its services with the parliament of the streets. “Those who come to us learn that, under the current administration, they need to bang at the gates and shout their just demands, they need to get the help of the media in order for the government to pay even just a little attention to their cases,” Martinez further explained. “OFWs learn to assert and assert their rights. Many of those we have worked with say joining these actions have empowered them and given them back their dignity. In fact, on March 17, on the death anniversary of Flor Contemplacion, Migrante shall march once again to Mendiola together with a growing number of victims and their relatives who cannot wait to end President Arroyo’s term to end. ”

For Esguerra, fulfillment comes after a victory over a certain case, or when a victim becomes an advocate or a volunteer as well. “We maintain good relations with those whom we have helped. Sometimes, they would drop by our office with pasalubong. Then there are the victims who decide to work for Migrante as well, or become activists elsewhere in the wider movement for social change of which we are part,” she shared.

With the rising number of Filipinos leaving daily for work in foreign shores, it seems that distressed OFWs will continue to stream like water in and out of Migrante’s offices here and abroad. Their resources are a pittance compared to that of the government’s, and yet they have something far greater, and that is genuine concern and love for migrants and the motherland.
#

Ang sigaw ng OFWs:

2010-02-19T11:08:00.000+03:00

Ang sigaw ng OFWs:
Satur Ocampo, Liza Maza sa Senado!
Gabriela Womens Party sa Konggreso!

Pahayag ng Pagsuporta ng Migrante Jeddah
19 Pebrero 2010

Napapanahon ang pagpapatakbo sa Senado ng mga progresibong kandidato nating sina Satur Ocampo at Liza Maza sa panahon ng matinding krisis na pang-ekonomiya at pampulitika na puminsala sa marami nating kababayan, hindi lang sa Pilipinas, kundi tayong mga migrante na nasa ibang bansa. Dito sa Saudi Arabia, ang malawakang pagliit ng kita dahil sa pambubusabos sa pasahod kakambal ng tumitinding implasyon ay may kaakibat na epekto sa ating mga mahal sa buhay na naiwan sa Pilipinas. Idagdag pa rito ang lumalawak at tumitinding mga kaso ng pang-aabuso at pagtratong alipin sa mga kababayan nating migrante. Nitong buling dalawang buwan lang, nakita natin ang aabot na sa 600 kababayan nating tumakas mula sa iba't-ibang porma ng pang-aabuso na lumantad at naghangad na makauwi. Ito ang mga obhetibong kalagayan na inuusbungan ng ating paglahok sa kampanyang elektoral.

Gayundin naman, ang pagtakbo ng ating mga progresibong kandidatong sina Satur Ocampo at Liza Maza ay indikasyon ng malawak at malalim na inabot ng pakikibaka ng sambayanan para sa kanilang mga demokratikong karapatan, at para sa pambansang kalayaan at demokrasya.

Si Satur Ocampo ay isa sa mga pinaka-maaasahan nating progresibong lider na walang humpay sa lumaban sa diktadurang Marcos, naging matatag na sumandig sa kapakanan ng sambayanan kahit sa panahon ng detensyon at pagkakakulong at naging matibay na beacon sa harap ng panananalakay sa mga demokratikong interes at karapatan ng mamamayan sa ilalim ng iba't-ibang nagharing rehimen.

Si Liza Maza ay matibay na sandigan ng mga kababaihan at ng sambayanan bilang lider ng Gabriela sa matagal na panahon. Bilang Kongresista, laging kaagapay si Liza ng mga migrante sa pagsusulong ng mga partikular na panawagan para sa kapakanan ng mga tinaguriang Bagong Bayani.

Ang totoo, kung kasama pa natin si Ka Bel ngayon, sigurado ako, itataguyod din natin sya sa Senado.

Dahil sila, si Satur Ocampo at Liza Maza ~ ang mga lider ng sambayanan na hindi natin matatawaran sa paninindigan at paglilingkod para sa interes ng sambayanang Pilipino.

Kahit hindi pinayagan ng COMELEC ang paglahok ng ating Partylist sa eleksyong ito, tayo bilang mga OFWs ay may napakalaking fayda kung pagwawagi ng ating dalawang kandidato. Sa pagkakaroon ng dalawang natatanging progresibong lider sa Senado, ang ating mga hinaing at mga panawagan ay higit na may lakas

Kung gayon, idinedeklara ng Migrante Jeddah sampu ng kanyang mga kasapi at kapatid nitong organisasyon dito sa Kanlurang Rehiyon ng Saudi Arabia ang ating pagsuporta sa pagtakbo nina Satur Ocampo at Liza Maza.

Ang sigaw ng OFWs:
Satur Ocampo, Liza Maza sa Senado!
Gabriela Womens Party sa Konggreso!

Pag-Endorso ng Migrante-KSA

2010-02-18T12:19:00.003+03:00

SA MGA KANDIDATO NG KOALISYONG MAKABAYAN
SATUR and LIZA sa SENADO at GABRIELA WOMENS PARTYLIST sa KONGRESO

12 Pebrero 2010

Pagpugay sa Masa at Sambayanan!

Ito na ang tamang panahon para manindigan ang bawat mamamayang biktima ng pulitikang luom sa dayaan, manipulasyon at kabulukan. Hinog na ang pagkakataon para ating isa-tinig ang marubdob na pagnasang hanguin ang bayang sadlak sa kabiguan at hindi malirip na kurapsiyon. Ito na ang oras para iluklok sa pwesto ang mga indibidwal na tunay na naninindigan para sa kapakanan ng masang-api. Panahon na natin ito!

Sa ngalan ng mga kaalyado, pamilya, miyembro, opisyal at buong pamunuan ng Migrante-KSA, buong pwersa naming iniindorso ang kandidatura ni Ka Satur Ocampo at Ka Liza Maza para senador; gayundin buong puso kaming sumusuporta sa lahat na Partylist Groups sa ilalim ng Koalisyong Makabayan; mainit rin ang aming pagtugon sa panawagang iboto ang lahat na mga militante at progresibong kandidato na lalahok sa nakatakdang halalan sa Mayo ng kasalukuyang taon.

Si Ka Satur at Ka Liza Maza ay mga “institusyong” masigasig na nagtaguyod at patuloy na sumusulong sa mga batas, programa at proyektong naka-sentro sa kagalingan ng bawat Pilipino. Nanguna rin sila sa mga makabayang protesta at pagkilos na ang mithi’y mapalaya ang bayan sa dikta at interbensyon ng mga dayuhang bansa sa panloob at panlabas na pagde-desisyon ng gobyerno ng Pilipinas.

Kasabay ng hakbang na ito, amin ring hinihimok ang buong sambayanan na itakwil at ibasura ang mga kandidatong nagpapaka-tuta at nakikipagsabwatan sa rehimeng US-Arroyo. Huwag nating iboto ang mga sagad-sagaring indibidwal na nagpapakasasa sa kaban ng bayan; mga abusado at ganid na kandidatong pumatay sa esensya ng Demokrasya, Hustisya at Kalayaan; at mga kasapakat ng rehimeng ito na walang humpay nagyurak sa Saligang-Batas ng Pilipinas. Hadlangan natin ang maitim na motibo at kasulasulasok na mga balakin ni Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo at mga kapamilya nito na muling maghari at salaulain ang ating lahi.

Bagama’t hindi ito ang sapat na paraan para mabago ang landas na tinatahak ng ating bayan, maipapakita pa rin natin ang ating paghihimagsik at maipapadama ang ating pag-alsa sa pamamagitan ng balota. Huwag nating bibigyan ng pagkakataon ang administrasyong ito na muling manipulahin at dayain ang resulta ng halalan. Kinabukasan ng bayan at ng mga susunod na henerasyon ang nakataya dito. Sagrado ang ating boto, bantayan natin ito!

Umaasa kami na kayo, bilang bahagi ng malawak na bilang ng Sambayanan ay makikiisa sa krusadang ito. Laban natin ito!

MIGRANTE KSA SUPPORTS KOALISYONG MAKABAYAN sa 2010!
SATUR OCAMPO & LIZA MAZA sa SENADO!
GABRIELA WOMEN’S PARTY sa KONGRESO
OFW’s at PAMILYA TULOY ANG LABAN PARA ISULONG ANG PAMBANSANG KALAYAAN AT TUNAY NA DEMOKRASYA!

Para sa bayan,

(Sgd.) John T. Torres
Tagapagsalita, Migrante -KSA
Email: john_torresrt@yahoo.com.ph
Mobile: +966-056-0631439

(SGD.) Rodel Macalintal
Media & Campaign Officer
Email: rodelom@yahoo.com
Mobile No.: +966-055-1977512

Migrante Saudi Arabia
Migrante Partylist - KSA Chapter
Kapatiran sa Gitnang Silangan - Riyadh
Migrante Al Khobar
Migrante Jeddah
Kapatiran sa Gitnang Silangan - Dawadmi
Kapatiran sa Gitnang Silangan - Al Jouf
Samahang Manggagawa sa Saudi Arabia (MASA)
Migrante Eastern Province
Jeddah Filipino Society
Makabayan Saudi Arabia
Muslim-Christian OFW’s preparatory committee for Justice & Peace in KSA
Filipino – Community Allied Organizations in KSA

SAVE THE LIFE OF JAKATIA PAWA NOW!

2010-02-15T11:42:00.003+03:00

Another life of an overseas Filipina is in peril. Another mother is languishing in a Kuwaiti jail, awaiting the final decision for a crime she did not commit. Once again, our urgent collective action is needed to save the life of a fellow Filipino and a fellow migrante worker

Jakatia Pawa was sentenced to death on April 13, 2008 for allegedly killing the 22-year old daughter of her employer. The death sentence was upheld by the Kuwaiti Court of Cassation (Supreme Court) on January 19, 2010. The sentence will now be submitted to Kuwait’s Head of State, the Emir, Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad al-Jaber Al Sabah. It is understood that the decision will be made within two to four weeks.

Jakatia Pawa, 33 years old and a mother of two children, is from Zamboanga Del Norte province in southern Philippines. Pawa left the Philippines to earn an honest living as a domestic helper in Kuwait. She has been working for the same employer for five years when the unfortunate crime happened.

The knife that was used in the crime did not have her fingerprints on it and there were no bloodstains of the victim on her dress or body that could link her to the killing. Throughout the whole investigation and judicial process, Pawa maintained that she was innocent. But our government’s failure to provide her a lawyer in the early stages of trial made an unfavorable verdict possible.

We strongly believe that this could be another case of the Philippine government’s criminal negligence. We believe that she is not the culprit but the victim of a sorry condition that forced her to work in a foreign land in order to provide a better future for her children. We also believe that she will not have ended up on death row had the Philippine government attended to her case sooner. Government must be held accountable and therefore must exhaust all measures to save her life.

She deserves nothing less than justice. All means must be exhausted so Jakatia Pawa can be reunited with her children and family.

We are appealing to the Amir of the State of Kuwait not to ratify the death sentence imposed on Jakatia Pawa. We are acknowledging that governments have the right to bring those who commit crimes to justice, but we also express our unconditional opposition to the death penalty as it ultimately violates the right to life!

SAVE JAKATIA PAWA NOW!

Please send your appeals to:

His Highness Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad al Jaber Al Sabah
al-Diwan al-Amiri,
al-Safat, Kuwait
Fax: +965 2539 2163 or +965 2243 0559
E-mail:
amirsoffice@da.gov.kw
Salutation: Your Highness

Please sign petition to Save Jakatia Pawa from death penalty here!

Case Background: Jakatia Pawa

2010-02-15T10:52:00.001+03:00

Case Background
Jakatia Pawa – In Deathrow

Jakatia Pawa is a 33 year old mother of 2 children from Zamboanga del Norte. She earned the degree of Bachelor of Science in Banking and Finance from the Zamboanga Alturo Eustaquio Colleges in Zamboanga City.

She has been working as a domestic helper for the family of the victim, Dala Al-Naqi. Kuwaiti Police found Pawa lying in front of her employer’s house when the crime happened on May 14, 2007.

Pawa’s family was notified through a letter that she was in Kuwaiti Central Jail for allegedly killing her employer’s 22-year old daughter. However, they only discovered the death sentence from television reports.

Jakatia Pawa was sentenced to death on 13 April 2008 by a court of First Instance for the murder. The death sentence was upheld by an appeal court on 16 June 2009. It was only then that the government was forced to allot US$25,000 (approximately P1.2 million) as her legal defense fund. Khalil Al-Qattan Law Offices and Abdullah Al-Sabah Law Offices were hired by the Philippine Embassy in Kuwait. The Court of Cassation (the highest court in Kuwait) affirmed the sentence with finality on January 19, 2010. The victim’s family refused to issue tanazul (affidavit of forgiveness). The sentence will now be submitted to Kuwait’s Head of State, the Emir, Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad al-Jaber Al Sabah. It is understood that the decision will be made within two to four weeks.

In the absence of lawyers to defend her during the early stages of the judicial process Pawa maintained she was innocent. The knife that was used in the crime did not have her fingerprints on it and there were no bloodstains of the victim on her dress or body that could link her to the killing. During a court hearing in January 2009 she stated that one of the victim's family members might have committed the murder because the victim was having an affair with a neighbour.

Shari’a Court Judge Abu Ali Cali, president of the The Ulama League of the Philippines (ULP) and the Philippine Center for Halal Awareness (PhilHalal) headed by Ustadhz Abdulhadie Daguit also expressed their support in efforts to save Jakatia Pawa.

Please sign petition to Sava Jakatia Pawa HERE Now!

Palayain ang Morong 43

2010-02-12T12:22:00.000+03:00

“PALAYAIN ANG 43 HEALTH WORKERS, MIDWIVES, VOLUNTEERS AT MEDICAL DOCTORS NA ILIGAL NA KINULONG AT INARESTO NG PASISTANG AFP/PNP”

12 PEBRERO 2010

Kaisa ng malawak na bilang mamamayan ang Migrante – KSA sa pagkondena sa ilegal at hindi makatarungang pag-aresto ng pinagsanib na pwersa ng AFP/PNP sa 43 health workers, midwives, volunteers at Medical Doctors sa Morong, Rizal noong ika-anim ng Pebrero taong kasalukuyan. Diumano’y nakakaranas ng pagtortyur, pananakit pisikal at sikolohikal ang mga binihag. Ang masaklap nito, ang mga kababaihang inaresto ay hindi rin nakaligtas sa diumano'y pangsasalaulang sekswal sa kamay ng mga dayukdok na militar at kapulisan.

Naninindigan ang Philippine Commission on Human Rights (CHR) na illegal ang ginawang paghalughog at paghuli sa mga 43 health workers, volunteers at Medical Doctors na kabilang First Responders Training na pinangunahan ng lehitimo at legal na organisasyong katulad ng Council for Health and Development.

Naghahabi ng kasinungalingan at naglulubid ng buhangin ang mga reaksyunaryong armadong pwersa ng pamahalaan, sa dikta ng Malacanang para paratangan ang mga inosenteng mamamayan bilang mga kasapi ng New People’s Army (NPA). Ang lahat na ito ay malinaw na bahagi ng palpak na Oplan Bantay-Laya-II na nakadisenyo para bigwasan ang mga legal, militante at progresibo na organisasyong kritiko ng bulok na rehimeng US-Arroyo.

Muling nasaksihan ng bayan ang kawalanghiyaan ng pamahalaan ng magtanim ito ng mga ebidensyang magdidiin sa inosenteng mga kalahok sa isang legal na seminar at pagpupulong na ang mithi’y sanayin ang masa sa medical first aid na magagamit sa mga emergency cases. Nagmistulang ‘Nazi Torturers’ ang mga elemento ng militar at kapulisan sa paglabag sa karapatang pantao ng 43 medical worker, volunteers, midwives at doctors na kanilang walang habag na inaresto at kinulong.

Nananawagan ang Migrante-KSA kay Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo na palayain na ang mga inaresto, at tigilan na ang kawalanghiyaang winawasiwas ng kanyang pamunuan sa taumbayan at sambayanan.

Para sa bayan,

(Sgd.) John T. Torres
Tagapagsalita, Migrante -KSA
Email: john_torresrt@yahoo.com.ph
Mobile: +966-056-0631439

(SGD.) Rodel Macalintal
Media & Campaign Officer
Email: rodelom@yahoo.com
Mobile No.: +966-055-1977512

Migrante Saudi Arabia
Migrante Partylist - KSA Chapter
Kapatiran sa Gitnang Silangan - Riyadh
Migrante Al Khobar
Migrante Jeddah
Kapatiran sa Gitnang Silangan - Dawadmi
Kapatiran sa Gitnang Silangan - Al Jouf
Samahang Manggagawa sa Saudi Arabia (MASA)
Migrante Eastern Province
Jeddah Filipino Society
Makabayan Saudi Arabia
Muslim-Christian OFW’s preparatory committee for Justice & Peace in KSA
Filipino – Community Allied Organizations in KSA.

We are not concocting stories

2010-02-12T11:59:00.002+03:00

It’s based on OFWs legitimate complaints that were never attended after numerous pleading for assistance –Migrante-ME

Press Release
12 February 2010

Reference:
John Leonard Monterona
Migrante-Middle East regional coordinator
Mobile No.: 00966 564 97 8012

Migrante-Middle East, an alliance of Filipino migrant workers with chapters and member-organization s in most of the countries in the Middle East, today said it is not concocting stories and would never do, in response to the accusations being hurled by its critiques -RP posts officials in the Middle East.

“We issued statement based on the facts and information relayed to us by our Migrante officers and of the distress OFWs themselves and from their relatives and families who have sought our assistance. Concocting stories and making lies are not part and would never be part of our advocacy,” said John Leonard Monterona, Migrante-Middle East regional coordinator.

Monterona is reacting to an unsigned letter from the Al Arab Company that was sent to one of the most esteemed Philippine news online reputing Migrante-ME issued statements on February 7 about the 200 striking OFWs from 5 job sites in Saudi Arabia.

“We have all the necessary documents, including exchanges of emails, names of the OFWs leaders and their contact numbers, and photos showing that the leaders of the striking OFWs in Riyadh have sought the Kapatiran sa Gitnang Silangan (KGS), member organization of Migrante and in fact have asked our support after the 200 OFWs decided to collectively stage a stop of work protest against their erring employer,” Monterona added.

“We stand on what we have said because it is based on the legitimate demands and complaints of our fellow OFWs that were victims of their employer’s labor malpractices such as delayed salaries for 4 months, non-payment of overtime work, 0among others as stated on the letter by the complaining OFWs to Al Arab Contracting Co. (ACC) Human Resources Manager, copy furnished the Philippine Ambassador in Riyadh,” Monterona continued.

Monterona revealed that one of the leader of the troubled OFWs sent an email to KGS Chairperson Eric Jocson saying that some of them were threatened by the ACC management that if they will not sign a waiver of their complaints and issue an apology letter, they will be terminated and will be sent back home without any compensation and payment of salaries.

“The demands and complaints of the 200 OFWs working for Al Arab Contracting Co (ACC) could have been resolved amicably without resorting to work stoppage and would never be an option for the troubled OFWs if in the first place the ACC management have properly attended their legitimate complaints which are after all are only demanding what have been stated on their original signed contract in the Philippines,” Monterona added.

Monterona said but because of contract substitution that slipped away, as usual, from the watch of Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO) in Riyadh or because POLO is just tolerating it, the hired OFWs labor status becomes problematic.

“However, if the complaints of the troubled OFWs have been properly attended, then their could never be an expose of ACC management labor malpractices and POLO’s continued neglect from Migrante-Middle East, and no exchanges of strong words and issuing threats of OFWs employment termination,” Monterona added.

Monterona averred Migrante chapters, OFWs and their families’ message is clear -if RP posts officials don’t want to be criticized, they should promptly attend on the legitimate complaints of distress or troubled OFWs against their erring employers and be pro-active in giving assistance to distress, abused and maltreated OFWs.

“We were informed by the leaders of the striking OFWs that they have met the ACC management on February 8 and have reached an agreement based on the issues raised by the complaining OFWs; they should have acted on their complaints when the management had received the first letter of complaints for its hired OFWs,” Monterona added.

“But where is the POLO? What they did when it was first informed by the troubled OFWs of their labor problems with their employer? Monterona queried. # # #

KGS/Migrante meets complaining OFWs from Al Arab Cont. Co. (ACC)on February 5.

Our Voices Will Be Heard:

2010-02-06T11:39:00.000+03:00

Dalhin si Ocampo at Maza sa Senado,
Gabriela Women’s Party Sa Kongreso!

6 February 2010
PRESS STATEMENT
Reference: Gary Martinez/ Chairperson/ 09393914418

For nine years, under President Macapagal-Arroyo’s administration, migrant Filipinos around the world have gone through hell and high waters because of her anti-people, anti-migrant policies.

Deathrow cases, illegal arrests, detention and false charges, illegal recruitment, mysterious deaths without any government investigation, sexual abuse, maltreatment, human trafficking, complete indifference to migrant families’ woes, violations of POEA approved contracts, unjust and exorbitant state exactons, misuse of OWWA funds – the list is endless. There is no want for proof that this administration has committed grave sins against migrant Filipinos.

Yet, from Macapagal-Arroyo to her lapdogs in the Halls of Congress, they continue to dishonor us by calling us “bagong bayanis” even as they legislate more bills that will extort more of our hard-earned money such as the mandatory Pag-ibig Fund or the mandatory insurance they want to impose on us; even as they continue to drag their feet on investigating OWWA scams or corrupt and abusive embassy officials; even as they do not lift a finger for OFWs who call to rescue them. How they cheapen us as they arrogantly distribute mere tokens of livelihood or financial assistance, prop us in front of their cameras, after weeks or months of following up what is due us and spending our last centavo knocking at their doors.

Even as they continue to bleed us dry of our money and systematically sell us as slaves in the world market, to salvage the economy, this government has callously denied us of the opportunity to be represented by delisting the Migrante Sectoral Party.

But, true to our character as survivors, as Filipinos who will fight for a better life, we, members of Migrante will still ensure that our voices will be heard.

In this coming elections, our voices will he heard, once again, in the Halls of Congress through the Gabriela Women’s Party (GWP), which has actively promoted, not only women’s rights, but also migrants’ rights. It has campaigned to remove the ban on direct hiring, scrapping of unfair POEA Guidelines, and exposed government misuse of OWWA funds. With the support of GABRIELA Rep. Luz Ilagan, we gained victories including cases of OFWs saved from unjust detention and death rows. GABRIELA supported campaigns against wage cuts and massive redundancies and gave special attention to the plight of undocumented migrants in Malaysia.

We also want our voices to be heard in the Senate! That is why we are supporting Makabayan candidates for Senator Satur Ocampo and Liza Maza. They bring with them a platform of genuine land reform and national industrialization which will address the issue of forced migration and consequently the roots of abject poverty.

Tomorrow, thousands of our members in Hongkong will go out in the streets and proclaim Satur Ocampo, Liza Maza, GWP as our candidates to signal our vow to work hard as we have never worked before to ensure that our voices will, indeed, be heard. ####

Equal to Extortion

2010-02-06T11:36:00.000+03:00

Mandatory Pag-Ibig Fund membership and contribution equal to extortion - Satur

News Feature
5 February 2010

Makabayan senatorial bet and Nacionalista Party guest candidate Satur Ocampo today expressed strong opposition to the mandatory coverage to Pag-IBIG under Republic Act 9679 or "Home Development Mutual Fund Law of 2009." He said that mandatory coverage meant mandatory contributions, "This by itself is unjust and tantamount to extortion."

"It's unjust for the government to impose another exaction on the public, including OFWs. It should be the prerogative of Filipinos whether or not they want to contribute to Pag-Ibig. The choice and the power of decision is being taken away from us. This is yet another burden on all Filipinos. OFWs in particular already have very little to spare from the earnings abroad, yet the government wants them to pay one more mandatory fee. If Pag-Ibig wants to improve its services and expand its membership, it should do so not at the expense of the public and those who do not want to be members," Ocampo said.

Under Rule V of the Implementing Rules and Regulations of the new law, all workers earning at least P1,000 are covered, including household helpers such as drivers, gardeners, cook, governess and other similar occupations. Membership is also being made mandatory for self-employed persons, whether actors, directors, scriptwriters and news reporters who are not under an employer-employee relationship; professional athletes, trainers and jockeys; farmers and fisherfolk; workers in the informal sectors such as cigarette vendors, street vendors, among others.

Coverage is likewise mandatory for Filipinos employed by foreign-based employers whether deployed here or abroad. Ocampo said this was a gross misinterpretation of the law.

"The real value of already miserable wages continues to slide as prices of basic goods and commodities steadily increase. The reformed value-added tax (RVAT) remains in place. To force the public to shell out contributions for the Pag-Ibig fund is nothing less than legalized theft. Filipinos should be allowed to have options regarding contributions to state-run fund and welfare agencies because its their hard-earned money," he said. #

UNITY STATEMENT:

2010-01-20T16:16:00.001+03:00

Genuine land reform will reunite us with our families and country
Filipino migrants’ unity statement on the Nationwide Peasant Caravan for Land and Justice

The Filipino migrant community expresses its solidarity with the ongoing 10-day Nationwide Caravan for Land and Justice, wherein thousands of Filipino peasants are traveling from Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao to reach Mendiola Bridge in Manila by January 22, the 23rd anniversary of the Mendiola Massacre. This historic caravan is a collective protest against the worsening landlessness, human rights violations against peasants, and plunder of agricultural funds under the administration of Pres. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

Majority of Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) hail from backward rural communities that offer no decent livelihoods or opportunities for its impoverished people. It is estimated that seven out of 10 peasants do not own the land they till, and give around one half to two-thirds of their harvest to wealthy landowners. Meanwhile, agricultural workers (mostly victims of landgrabbing by corporations, the government, and landowners), receive less than US$1 per day during cropping season, and left to fend for themselves doing odd jobs for the rest of the year.

This situation has forced many of us to seek overseas work, in the hope that we may be able to provide for our families’ basic needs. We incur huge debts in the process of applying for work abroad, the amount needed for which ranges from US$ 2,000 to 4,000, including exorbitant placement fees and state exactions. However, upon reaching foreign shores, many of us realize that we are unable to fulfill our dreams after all. We realize that we have become victims of exploitation and abuse by our recruiters and employers. We realize that the government has sold us out to employers and foreign governments, which it shamelessly woos to open up their labor market even at the expense of our most basic human rights. The number of distressed OFWs increases by the day; so does the number of new deployments. The Arroyo administration has made it a point to break previous records of OFW deployment (currently at 4,500 workers per day) and OFW remittances (at US$1.5 billion in October 2009), clearly using labor export as an artificial means to sustain the perennially bankrupt Philippine economy.

The Filipino migrant community believes that the government’s labor export program is not the solution to the economic crisis, and landlessness experienced by farmers in the communities we came from and in which our families back home are still struggling to survive. Because of our situation abroad, which ranges from being financially tight to downright dehumanizing, most of us have been unable to pay off our debts, much less secure a good future for our families despite years of hard toil. The global financial economic crisis continues to be a threat. It has forced and will continue to force thousands of us back to the countryside, which we believe will continue to be bereft of opportunities.

It will be bereft of opportunities until lands are handed over to farmers instead of agricultural or mining corporations that merely extract natural resources and exploit labor for profit. It will be bereft of opportunities until the Arroyo administration puts an end to militarization, which only serves wealthy landowners and corporations, while terrorizing rural communities. Since 2001, there have been 561 civilian farmers extra-judicially killed, while hundreds more have been abducted and remain missing or illegally arrested and detained. The deaths of our farmers, such as in Hacienda Luisita, grieve us like we grieve the unjust deaths of our fellow OFWs at the hands of employers and foreign governments.

We salute the Filipino peasantry for undertaking this long march for land and justice. We urge the government to heed their calls, as well as ours, that only genuine land reform and national industrial development will uplift the Filipino people from poverty and address the root of forced migration. Indeed, only genuine land reform and national industrial development has the potential to reunite us with our families and enable us to truly offer our lives and labor in service of the country.

Migrante Australia
Migrante Melbourne
Philippine Australia Solidarity Association
Gabriela Australia
Pinoy In Austrian Society For Integrity, Reforms and Social Transformation (PINAS FIRST)
KASAMMAKO-(Katipunan ng mga Samahan ng Migranteng Manggagawa sa Korea)
Umangat Rome
PINAY-The Filipino Women's Organization in Quebec
Migrante Saudi Arabia
Migrante Partylist - KSA Chapter
Kapatiran sa Gitnang Silangan - Riyadh
Migrante Al Khobar
Migrante Jeddah
Kapatiran sa Gitnang Silangan - Dawadmi
Kapatiran sa Gitnang Silangan - Al Jouf
Samahang Manggagawa sa Saudi Arabia (MASA)
Migrante Eastern Province
Jeddah Filipino Society
Makabayan Saudi Arabia
MIGRANTE-UAE
MIGRANTE-Dubai
MIGRANTE-Ras Al Kaimah
United Filipinos in Hong Kong (UNIFIL-MIGRANTE-HK)
Abra Tinguian Ilocano Society - Hong Kong (ATIS-HK)
Filipino Migrant Workers' Union - Hong Kong (FMWU-HK)
Cordillera Alliance in Hong Kong (CORALL-HK)
Association of Concerned Filipinos in Hong Kong (ACFIL-HK)
Abra Migrant Workers Welfare Association (AMWWA-HK)
Friends of Bethune House in Hong Kong (FBH-HK)
Filipino Migrants' Association - Hong Kong (FMA-HK)
LIKHA Filipino Migrants Cultural Organization (LIKHA)
Mission Volunteers (MOVERS) Hong Kong
MIGRANTE Sectoral Party - Hong Kong
GABRIELA Hong Kong
Migrante - Shatin
Migrante - HSBC
Migrante - Chater Rd.
Migrante - Naguilian (Isabela) Hong Kong
Pinatud a Saleng ti Umili (PSU)
Filipino Friends in Hong Kong (FFHK)
Cuyapo Association in Hong Kong
Pangasinan Organization for Welfare, Empowerment and Rights (POWER)
MIGRANTE Europe
MIGRANTE Netherlands (Amsterdam)
MIGRANTE Netherlands (Den Haag)
Anakbayan-Japan
Filipina Circle for Advancement and Progress (FICAP)
Filipino Migrant Center (FMC)
Center for Japanese-Filipino Families (CJFF)
KAFIN-Migrante Saitama
Kafin Migrant Center
MIGRANTE Nagoya
Philippine Society in Japan (PSJ)
Migrante international-taiwan chapter
Migranteng Ilonggo sa Taiwan
BUGKOS
Gabriela womens party_Taiwan chapter
Migrante Aotearoa New Zealand
Migrante-Ontario

For Reference:
Garry Martinez
Migrante International Chairperson
Mobile no: 09393914418

Migrante salutes striking Pinoys in Riyadh

2010-01-13T09:53:00.000+03:00

Migrante salutes striking Pinoys in Riyadh
Slams “inutile” RP post

12 January 2010
PRESS RELEASE

A militant alliance of overseas Filipino workers’ (OFWs) groups today expressed solidarity with 88 OFWs who staged a hunger strike in Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, after calls for their repatriation were left unheeded by the Philippine post in the Middle Eastern city.

The 88 OFWs were victims of contract substitution and unjust labor practices of construction firm Annasban Group. They stopped working on October 12 last year after they complained of salary reduction, illegal salary deduction and delayed payment of salary.

November 3 last year, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said in a statement that the Philippine Labor Office (POLO) in Riyadh have been working for the workers’ repatriation “at the soonest possible time.” The promised repatriation, however, didn’t happen.

“Migrante International salutes the Riyadh 88 for militantly standing up to assert their rights. OFWs the world over join them in their fight for justice,” stated Garry Martinez, Chairperson of Migrante International.

“We vehemently condemn the Philippine government, particularly our post in Riyadh, for their gross neglect and indifference to their plight. We strongly urge them to act with dispatch and work for the immediate repatriation and remuneration of the 88 hunger strikers.” Martinez said.

The Migrante leader likewise called for the investigation and recall of RP officials in Riyadh KSA for their apparent “inutility and incompetence.”

“When OFWs in distress go to the extent of starving themselves just to get the attention of Philippine government officials, there really is something wrong. Such is the case in Riyadh. What we have there are heartless, inutile and incompetent officials who do not deserve their posts,” Martinez stressed.

In December of 2003, Martinez said, 16 stranded OFWs also staged a hunger strike inside the premises of the Philippine embassy in Riyadh. Days after, the striking workers were arrested and detained by the Saudi police upon the orders of Philippine embassy officials led by then Ambassador Bahnarim Guinomla.

To protest the arrest of the striking workers in Riyadh and to renew their call for the OFWs’ repatriation, Migrante organized a camp out of the relatives and family members of the 16 OFWs outside the office of the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) in Pasay City. The peaceful camp out, Martinez said, was brutally dispersed by the Pasay police upon orders of then OWWA Administrator Virgilio Angelo. Four Migrante leaders, including its Secretary General Maita Santiago, were arrested during the dispersal.###

Reference:
Garry Martinez, Chairperson, 09393914418
Ailyn Abdula, Media Officer, 09212708994

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OFWs in solidarity

2010-01-12T00:25:00.000+03:00

12 January 2010
PRESS RELEASE:

OFWs in solidarity with farmers in historic nationwide caravan for land and justice

Migrante International, representing Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) in various countries, today expressed solidarity with the first-ever nationwide farmers caravan for land and justice, which kicked off today in Davao and Cagayan de Oro City, and is expected to culminate with thousands of farmers marching to Mendiola on January 22.

“We hail our farmers for their resolve to travel all the way from remote provinces in order to register their call for genuine land reform, which the Arroyo government has left unheeded. OFWs, majority of whom come from poor agricultural provinces, know what it means to be landless. Landlessness is one of the root causes of migration, and thus Migrante supports this historic protest action,” said Garry Martinez, Migrante International chairperson.

Migrante, currently campaigning for the repatriation of more than 300 stranded OFWs, said that the misery faced by Filipino victims of human rights abuses abroad can be traced to the lack of opportunities in the country brought about by landlessness and lack of national industrial development.

“For instance, some of the 88 OFWs in Riyadh currently on a hunger strike come from poor farmer families. It is most tragic when OFWs escape hunger here in the Philippines, only to be faced with hunger abroad because of government neglect and indifference to their welfare,” said Martinez.

Migrante International will join several groups that will welcome the farmers when they arrive in Metro Manila on January 19. The group will also mobilize for the march to Mendiola on January 22, the 23rd anniversary of the Mendiola massacre.

“Farmers, just like OFWs, are heroes, struggling to survive and fight amidst poverty brought about by the government’s neo-liberal policies that serve to benefit big landlords and employers first. They serve as an inspiration to OFWs all over the world,” Martinez added.###

--

Reference: Gary Martinez, Chairperson, 09393914418

Nine Years Under Arroyo

2010-01-10T13:51:00.002+03:00

Anti-Migrant Regime:
Nine Years Under Arroyo

By Migrante International

It was 2001 and riding on the crest of People Power II that ousted President Joseph Estrada, then Vice President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo inherited the presidency. Reforms seemed in the offing but nine years later, the Pinoy migrants along with the rest of the country, could not wait for Arroyo whose term ends in 2010 to leave Malacanang.

When Arroyo assumed power, government’s labor export policy was already in place. Which means that labor export was treated no longer as a temporary measure to address unemployment but as a means to keep the sinking economy afloat.

Arroyo cannot be happier. Under her regime, labor export remained the country’s no.1 foreign exchange earner, earning at least $16 billion by end 2008, and projected to reach $17 billion in 2009. According to the Bangko Sentral, for 2008, remittances even surpassed the $1.52 billion foreign direct investment of $1.52 billion, and far outstripped net exports of goods and services which registered a $11.1 billion deficit.

Also, the National Economic and Development Authority confirmed that the remittances were higher than foreign aid disbursed ($1.05 billion) and were way beyond the increase in government foreign debt stock of $1.78 billlion, according to the Bureau of Treasury.

With enough foreign exchange earnings in its hands, the Arroyo regime is able to meet the country’s foreign debt obligations, makes the country a good credit risk, and remains confident even with deficits in the balance of payments.

The increase in remittances mirrored the increase in overseas deployment which under the Arroyo regime breached the million mark (1.24 million) by 2007. This means that 3,700 Filipinos are now leaving for work abroad daily, excluding the undocumented. The years under the Arroyo regime saw the largest number of Filipinos forced to find jobs abroad. The destinations remained the same but with the markets ever expanding and new ones being opened especially with the advent of the global financial crisis.

In 2008, OFW deployments by region were concentrated in the Middle East (51.1% of deployments), Asia (17.8%) and Europe (4.2%). The top ten destinations of OFWs accounting for 82.6% of deployed OFWs were Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar, Hong Kong, Singapore, Kuwait, Taiwan, Italy, Canada and Bahrain. Up until 2008, said the NSO, 8 out of 10 OFWs are laborers and unskilled workers.

Remittance-dependent

To date, the Philippines now ranks as the fourth largest remittance-receiving country next to India, China and Mexico, whose economies are much larger than the Philippines. Hence, in terms of the remittances’ significance to the economy, the Arroyo regime has succeeded in making the Philippines the largest and most-remittance dependent country in the world.

True, OFW remittances have added significantly to family or household income, purchasing power and consumption, at least while they are being received. Remittances normally go to food, education, and medical expenses. According to the NSO’s Family Income and Expenditure Survey in 2006, about 4.1 million families receive assistance from abroad, and assuming that the average family size is 5, this could mean 21 million Filipinos are relying on OFW incomes.

However, figures from the NSO reveal that most remittances on a monthly basis sent to the Philippines are either a little less or a little more than the NCR minimum wage of P11,620 (from a daily wage of P360), whether the OFW is working as a laborer or an associate professional. In this case, if jobs were really available and the minimum wage is met, migration may not be an option for the majority of OFWs at all.

Also, whatever benefits are derived by households are offset by the social costs of migration. The long and physical separation of families has wrecked the relationship of spouses and damaged the upbringing of children, causing trauma to family life nearing national proportions. Colonial mentality is reinforced as migration glorifies working and living abroad, hence producing generations of migrants. Dependence on OFW remittances tends to diminsh the value of hard work and the importance of developing local jobs, too.

Worse, for all the increase in remittances and deployment, the country remains poor and economically backward. According to the National Statistic and Coordination Board, three years into the Arroyo regime, poverty incidence in population increased from 30% in 2003 to 32.9% in 2006.

The sadder fact is that even if remittances shoot up as is happening now despite the world economic crisis, poverty is still going to get worse. Whoever thought of migration or remittance as a tool for national development is a charlatan.

For one, there is not much capital left from remittance spending for investments as the remittance goes first to payment of household debts and consumption spending. Whatever investment there is remains small-scale, such as sari-sari stores, tricycles, jeepneys, taxis that generate few jobs and minimal domestic capital formation. For another, much of the consumption goes to imported goods, hence, the multiplier effect of local spending is limited.

Protection, a myth

For all these, and at best, the labor export program has served the Arroyo regime as a counter-insurgency or counter-revoutionary strategy to stop a social volcano from fully erupting. Even as the country does not have much to gain from forced migration, the strategy saves the economy from total collapse, feeding food to millions of families, albeit temporary, to keep these millions away from talks of revolt, revolution, or social change.

Yet, even while serving its purpose and recognizing the role of the bagong bayani, the Arroyo regime is ill-prepared to provide millions of OFWs with protection, from the time they apply for job permits to actually working and living abroad. Compounding this is the fact that government does not spend a single centavo for OFW welfare; this is borne by OFWs themselves through forced contributions.

By 2007, a quarter (8.7 million) of 34 million employed Filipinos are abroad, representing a tenth of the population of 88.7 million then. The figures could go higher with the number of undocumented or irregular workers, said to be almost half of the documented ones. While the majority are still male, the female OFWs have outranked the males in deployment for the last couple of years.

The second Global Forum on Migration and Development held in the Philippines last year had hailed Arroyo’s labor export program as a model for other labor-sending countries to emulate. Apparently so. The impression was that with overbearing institutions such as the Philippine Overseas Employment Agency (POEA), the government has created safe migration channels to manage and control OFW deployment at all levels.

Fact is that Arroyo’s labor export program has become so unimaginably huge that it simply has no control over it. Think 197 countries where Pinoys are spread out. Think 8 to 10 million Filipinos. Yet the POEA does not even maintain offices abroad, nor has it supervision over labor attaches that are under the Department of Foreign Affairs called POLOS (Philippine Labor Offices). There are only 34 POLO offices with 230 staff to serve millions of OFWs.

It is small wonder then why thousands of stranded workers are camping in embassy premises or outside of it waiting for assistance and that numerous abuses remain unmonitored or unattended. Or why OFWS continue to fall under the mercy of unscrupulous recruiters, traffickers, sexual abusers, or violators of contracts despite exposes and prosecution.

Even if protection is rendered this is mostly due to pressures from migrant organizations such as Migrante International that of last has organized chapters in 23 countries and has a partylist bearing its name.

The lack of protection is unacceptable; unjust state exactions is even more unforgivable. Migrante International has estimated that a potential migrant will be paying the government some P18,000 just to complete the basic documentary requirements. At 1.24 million OFWs deployed in 2008, the P18,000 per migrant could potentially be equivalent to some P22.3 billion pesos a year collected mostly from migrants who come from poor households and with limited options.

Then there is the trust fund by OFWs run by OWWA (Overseas Workers Welfare Administration). that comes from a 25 dollar contribution of migrants with counterpart funds from their employers. Earmarked for repatriation, health and life insurance, legal assistance, scholarships and trainings, and loans for migrant families, the fund had averaged 38 million dollars annually for the last five years.

But more often, the migrants have to plead for the release of their own funds from OWWA. Worse, they had discovered that their funds were being diverted to unnecessary investments and electoral fraud, and with no consultation from members.

Good riddance

As 2010 draws closer and migrants say good riddance to Arroyo, the prospect of another anti-migrant regime emerging after the 2010 elections could still be looming.

Nine years under Arroyo has brought even more harrowing tales of migrant abuse than previous decades. Many more may opt to go underground or undocumented for lack of better prospects in the Philippines or even abroad with the intensifying crisis.

What is clear is that the labor export policy may yet be another safety net for a ruling regime that refuses to confront the economic roots resulting to forced migration.

Be that as it may, Migrante International promises to stay the course as it has been doing since 1994.

Desisyon ng COMELEC, kinondena ng Migrante Al Khobar

2009-11-22T11:45:00.000+03:00

Mariin naming kinokondena ang pinal na desisyon ng COMELEC na nagbasura sa paglahok ng Migrante Sectoral Partylist sa halalang 2010. Ito ay tuwirang pagkitil sa sagradong karapatang marinig sa konggreso ang mga lehitimong hinaing ng sektor OFW.

Ang hindi makatarungan hakbang na ito ng COMELEC sa pangunguna ni Chairman Jose Melo ay nagpapatunay lamang na ang komisyong nabanggit ay pugad ng mga asong-ulol na minamaniobra ni GMA. Tuluyan nang sinelyuhan ang haka‐haka at pagdududa ng bayan na ang COMELEC ay isang malawak at organisdadong makinarya ng pandaraya at pagmamanipula kung saan sunud‐sunuran lamang ito sa dikta at kapritso Malakanyang!

Ang iskemang ito ay ganti ng mga buwitre at magnanakaw sa pamahalaan sapagkat ang Migrante International ay patuloy na naninidigan laban sa pagsasamantala, kurapsiyon, pandaraya, inhustisya, paglabag sa karapatang‐pantao at sa pangunguna nito sa pagbatikos sa pamahalaang nagpapabaya sa interes ng sektor na aming kinabibilangan.

Si Chairman Jose Melo, sampu ng kanyang mga kasapakat ay walang puwang para pamunuan ang institusyong dapat sana’y kanlungan ng Demokrasya at Kalayaan. Ang COMELEC na matagal ng sadlak sa katiwalian at kontrobersiya ay lalo pang naluom sa hindi mawaring kahihiyan sapagkat nagmistula itong berdugo ng putulin nila ang natitirang hibla na magbibigay daan para magkaroon ng lehitimong reperesentasyon ang mga Migranteng Pilipino sa kongreso.

Nararapat lamang na magbitiw at patalsikin sa puwesto si Chairman Jose Melo at mga kasabwat nito sapagkat sila ay imahe ng napipintong malawakang pandaraya at pagmanipula sa resulta ng halalan 2010.

(SGD.) John Torres
Spokesperson
Migrante Sectoral Partylist
Eastern Region, KSA
Email: john_torresrt@yahoo.com.ph

Comelec as a tool for political repression

2009-11-22T01:00:00.001+03:00

22 November 2009
STATEMENT

With growing number of disqualified progressive party-lists:
Migrante denounces Comelec as a tool for political repression,
asks Supreme Court to act quickly

Migrante Party-list today declared that it would join ACT and Courage Party-lists in fighting against the Commission on Elections’ apparent move to block the participation of progressive party-lists in the 2010 elections, saying that the poll body had exposed itself as a tool for political repression and electoral fraud.

“First, it denied representation to millions of Overseas Filipino Workers. Now it has denied representation as well to hundreds of thousands of teachers and government employees. Comelec chairman Jose Melo and the other commissioners must be dismissed and held accountable for their bastardization of the Party-list System.

“The Filipino people cannot trust the Comelec to hold clean and honest elections, when it has already shown an obvious bias against party-list groups known to be critical of the administration,” said Connie Bragas-Regalado, Migrante Party-list chairperson.

According to Regalado, the poll body has resorted to twisting the law and outright lying in order to justify the de-listing of Migrante and disqualification of ACT and Courage.

“For instance, it carried out a verification of Courage chapters but came out with an incorrect report that failed to recognize existing chapters and attributed to them non-existing ones. In Migrante’s case, it equated non-participation in the elections to failure to obtain 2% of total party-list votes.

On the other hand, did the Comelec ever prove the constituency of administration-backed party-list groups such as Jovito Palparan’s Bantay and Lourdes Arroyo’s Ang Kasangga? Until now, it is not even clear what marginalized sector they represent,” she said.

The migrant leader is confident that “the Comelec’s flawed decisions will not fool the Supreme Court,” but expressed concern over the nearing December 1 deadline for filing of manifestations of intent to run.

“It is imperative that the court act quickly on the matter. Will it allow the fate of marginalized OFWs, teachers, and government employees to rest on a handful of politically motivated commissioners? Will it allow the Party-list System to be fully bastardized?” she added.

Migrante last November 20 asked the Supreme Court for a Temporary Restraining Order on their de-listing, while ACT and Courage are set to file their petitions to the high court next week.###

Reference:
Connie Bragas-Regalado, Chairperson, 09279268984
Ailyn Abdula, Media Liaison Officer, 09212708994

Migrante calls for Melo’s dismissal

2009-11-20T10:45:00.001+03:00

20 November 2009
STATEMENT

For ‘killing’ OFWs’ dream of having a say in government:
Migrante calls for Melo’s dismissal and seeks a TRO from the Supreme Court

See you in court.

This was the message of Migrante Sectoral Party today as it stormed anew the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) office in Intramuros, Manila to highlight overseas Filipinos and families’ rage after the poll body affirmed its earlier decision disqualifying Migrante from the 2010
party-list race.

On the first day of the filing of certificates of candidacy and of party-lists’ manifestations of intent to participate in the 2010 elections, Migrante members carried a mock coffin that symbolizes the poll body’s ‘killing’ of the Filipino migrants and their families’ dream of congressional representation through the party-list system.

“It’s official. The Arroyo regime, through the COMELEC, has fastened the last nail in the coffin of Overseas Filipino Workers and their families’ dream of finally having genuine representation in government,” said Migrante Sectoral Party Chairperson Connie Bragas-Regalado.

“We are demanding to have Chairman Jose Melo and the rest of the Commissioners dismissed for disenfranchising millions of OFWs,” she added.

The group also declared that they are set to confront the COMELEC ruling head on, and later trooped to the Supreme Court to seek a temporary restraining order (TRO) against the COMELEC ruling.

“OFWs and their families deserve to have a say in government and are determined to fulfill this long sought dream. We are prepared to make sure that our call for genuine representation will reverberate not only in the Philippines but throughout the world,” Regalado said, as she revealed that protest actions are already underway in various Migrante chapters worldwide.

She warned that OFWs are even contemplating withholding their hard-earned remittances for a day in protest of Migrante’s delisting.

In its petition to the Supreme Court, Migrante said that COMELEC’s decision upholding Migrante’s de-listing is illegal and violates the Party-list System Act.

The COMELEC, in its November 17 decision, said that due process was accorded Migrante and 25 other de-listed party-lists by allowing them to file verified oppositions. It also cited a 2007 Supreme Court minute resolution of Minero vs. COMELEC, wherein failure to participate in the elections was equated with failure to get 2% of total party-list votes.

But according to Julius Matibag, Migrante’s legal counsel, “The Party-list System Act is clear and categorical that that the registration of a party-list may be removed or cancelled only after due process and hearing, and not before. Before COMELEC gave Migrante the opportunity to be heard, COMELEC has already cancelled its registration.”

Matibag also said that the Minero vs. COMELEC is “incorrect.” “Migrante will ask the Supreme Court for a proper interpretation of the Party-list System Act, and stand by our position that failure to participate in the elections is not equivalent to failure to get 2% of total party-list votes. How can you lose an election if you did not join it in the first place?”

Migrante’s legal counsel is positive that the Supreme Court will act favorably on Migrante’s petition. “The high court has proven, through its abandonment of the first-party rule earlier this year, that any doubt on the interpretation of the Party-List System Act must be resolved in favor of recognizing the spirit and wisdom of the said law, which is to give representation the marginalized, such as OFWs,” Matibag said.

He assailed that it took 22 days for the COMELEC to resolve Migrante’s verified opposition, and that it was delivered to the group only on November 19. “Such a delay has greatly limited the period available to the Supreme Court to resolve Migrante’s application for a TRO before the December 1 deadline of the filing of the manifestation of the intent to participate in the elections,” said Matibag.

Meanwhile, Regalado pointed out that the poll body allowed five party-list groups (Visayas Farmers Party, Sagip Kapwa Foundation Inc., Visayan Association of the Philippines, Pinoy Overseas Party and Barangay Association for National Advancement and Transparency) to participate in the 2004 elections, even if they failed to obtain 2% of the total party-list votes in 1998 and did not participate in the 2001 elections.

Migrante Sectoral Party failed to obtain 2% of the total party-list votes in 1998 and did not participate in the 2007 elections. ###

Reference:
Connie Bragas-Regalado, Chairperson, 09279268984
Ailyn Abdula, Media Officer, 09212708994

Migrante to Comelec:

2009-11-13T11:01:00.001+03:00

Respect due process, respect migrant’s representation, release decision now!

12 November 2009
PRESS RELEASE

Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) and their families today held a protest action in front of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) office in Intramuros, Manila, to demand that the electoral body immediately release its decision on Migrante Party-list’s petition to remove its name from party-lists disqualified to run in the 2010 elections.

“The Comelec must not keep more than 10 million OFWs waiting. It has now said that it will print and release 100,000 ballots for its voter’s education campaign. We deserve to know: is our name in these ballots?” demanded Connie Bragas-Regalado, chairperson of Migrante Party-list.

Denied of due process before the Comelec En Banc released its resolution to de-list Migrante last October 13, the party-list group said that the electoral body should hold a hearing in order to prove that the de-listing was not “politically motivated.”

“Everyday, Comelec’s silence on the issue angers OFWs all over the world, who has kept sending e-mails and text messages to assert their right to representation. They deserve a chance to be heard, as well as an explanation as to why they have been denied due process for so long,” said Bragas-Regalado.

The protesters hung a giant “Respect Due Process! Respect Migrant Representation!” streamer at Comelec’s gate, to pressure the commissioners to act on its verified opposition, submitted last October 26.

They also insisted that the commissioners, who are meeting in En Banc, face them and directly answer their long-standing questions, “what are their solid grounds for de-listing and why are they not following due process?”

Yesterday, Migrante Party-list held its national convention where its chapters from Metro Manila and several regions resolved to continue the fight for representation and for the rights and welfare of migrant workers and their families.

Sen. Francis “Chiz” Escudero also expressed solidarity with the group. “Hindi tamang itinutulak papalayo ang sinumang grupo. Dapat hilahing papasok sa larangan ng pakikibaka patungkol sa ating demokrasya sa pamamagitan ng balota,” (No group should be pushed away, but should be encouraged to engage in the struggle for democracy through the ballot) he said in a video message.

Elected as Migrante Party-list’s first three nominees were Bragas-Regalado, Emmanuel Villanueva (secretary general, United Filipinos in Hong Kong), and John Leonard Monterona (coordinator, Migrante International-Middle East), all current or former OFWs.

“Our gathering is a political message: We are worth more than the dollars we send home. We are worth being listened to,” said Bragas-Regalado. ###

Let Migrante Run

2009-11-09T11:11:00.001+03:00

09 November 2009
PRESS RELEASE:

“Let Migrante Run,” running women migrants say
1-week action against denial of OFW party-list representation kicks off with protest jog

Around 150 women from an Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW) community in Bagong Barrio, Caloocan City today held a protest jog against the Arroyo government’s continuing refusal to give migrants a chance for representation under the party-list system.

Carrying streamers that read, “Let Migrante Run,” former female OFWs and wives and mothers of OFWs held an early morning protest jog to symbolize their protest against the Commission on Elections’ de-listing of Migrante Party-list from the 2010 elections.

From the Brgy. 150 covered court, the women ran two kilometers and broke through a finish line designed with paper masks of Comelec commissioners and President Arroyo.

“This run symbolizes how OFWs will not be stopped by a malicious move by the government to further marginalize us. We who have toiled abroad and whose husbands and children work like slaves under foreign employers have fought long and hard for our rights and welfare. We refuse to simply stand by and allow this attack on our organized effort to gain a much needed and much deserved voice in Congress,” said Gina Gaborni, deputy secretary general of Migrante International.

Migrante Party-list has a pending opposition to the Comelec’s En Banc Resolution last October 13, 2009 disqualifying Migrante and 25 other party-list organizations, saying that it was in violation of the Party-list System Act and “politically motivated” in order to silence party-lists critical of the administration.

Last week, it launched an electronic barrage through text and e-mail in order to pressure Comelec commissioners to remove Migrante’s de-listing. It was participated by OFW communities worldwide.

The protest jog in Caloocan City is the first in a series of migrants’ protest actions scheduled this week, which will culminate in a rally in front of the Comelec on November 12.

“We are just warming up in our protest. We vow to see this struggle to the finish line, which is the day when we are finally given the chance to be truly represented and heard, not just shamelessly used by the government for the remittances that we and our families send home,” said Gaborni.###

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“Patakbuhin ang Migrante,” sigaw ng tumatakbong kababaihang migrante
Protest jog, simula ng 1-linggong aksiyon laban sa pagtanggal ng representasyon ng OFW sa party-list

Mahigit-kumulang 150 kababaihan mula sa isang komunidad ng mga Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) sa Caloocan City ang nagsagawa ng protest job laban sa umano’y patuloy na pagtanggi ng gobyernong Arroyo na bigyan ng tsansa ang OFWs na magkaroon ng representasyon sa ilalim ng sistemang party-list.

Bitbit ang mga streamer na nakalagay ang “Patakbuhin ang Migrante,” nag-jogging noong madaling araw ang kababaihang dating mga OFW o di kaya’y asawa’t magulang ng mga OFW. Nilalabanan nila ang de-listing ng Commission on Elections sa Migrante Party-list mula sa 2010 halalan.

Mula sa covered court ng Brgy. 150, tumakbo ng dalawang kilometro ang kababaihan at giniba ang isang finish line na may mga maskarang papel ng mga komisyuner ng Comelec at ni Pangulong Arroyo.

“Ipinapakita ng aming pagtakbo na hindi kami magpapapigil sa malisyosong hakbang ng gobyerno na patuloy kaming imarginalisa. Matagal na naming ipinaglalaban ang aming mga karapatan, kami na nagtrabaho sa abroad at na ang mga asawa at anak ay nagpapakahirap pa rin doon. Hindi namin hahayaan ang atakeng ito sa aming organisadong tangka na sa wakas ay marinig ang boses sa Kongreso,” sabi ni Gina Gaborni, deputy secretary general ng Migrante International.

Tinututulan ng Migrante Party-list ang En Banc Resolution ng Comelec noong Oktubre 13, 2009 sa dinidiskwalipika ang Migrante at 25 pang party-lists. Umano’y labag ang nasabing resolusyon sa Party-list System Act at isang hakbang para patahimikin ang mga organisasyong kritikal sa administrasyon.

Noong nakaraang linggo, naglunsad ang mga OFW mula sa iba’t ibang bansa ng electronic barrage sa pamamagitan ng text at e-mail para udyukan ang Comelec na alisin ang de-listing ng Migrante.

Ang protest jog sa Caloocan City ang una sa serye ng mga kilos-protesta ngayong linggo, na lulundo sa isang rali sa harap ng Comelec sa Nobyembre 12.

“Nagsisimula pa lamang uminit ang aming protesta. Tatapusin namin ang labang ito hanggang sa huli, o ang araw na sa wakas ay mabibigyan kami ng tsansa na mapakinggan at magkaroon ng tunay na kinatawan, at hindi na lamang ginagamit ng gobyerno para sa remittances na pinapadala ng aming mga pamilya,” sabi ni Gaborni.###

Reference:
Gina Gaborni,
Deputy Secretary General, 09074698126

Ailyn Abdula,
Media Officer, 09212708994

Migrante supports Comelec Reso

2009-11-07T10:37:00.000+03:00

7 November 2009
PRESS RELEASE:

Migrante supports Comelec resolution to bare party-list nominees;
dares electoral body to bare process of de-listing.

Migrante Sectoral Party today expressed support for the Commission on Elections Resolution 8691 requiring party-lists running in the 2010 elections to bare their nominees in order to ensure that they represent marginalized sectors.

“It is just correct that partylists bare their nominees so that party-list organizations backed by the administration, which ran in the last elections, be exposed to the public as fraud and bereft of marginalized constituencies,” said Connie Bragas-Regalado, chairperson of Migrante Sectoral Party.

Bragas-Regalado was referring to the party-lists Kasangga ang Bantay, whose representatives are Lourdes Arroyo, President Arroyo’s sister-in-law, and notorious human rights violator Gen. Jovito Palparan, respectively.

At the same time, the group challenged Comelec to bare as well the process that the electoral body undertook to come up with an earlier resolution to de-list Migrante, along with 25 other party-lists.

“Since we are on the issue of transparency, the Comelec should also reveal the proceedings of the En Banc meeting where it decided to de-list Migrante and other party-lists. We demand this because no hearing was held before they issued the questionable resolution, in violation of the Party-list System Act,” Bragas-Regalado further said.

Migrante Party-list is protesting what it calls the Comelec’s “intentional misreading” of the Party-list System Act in order to prevent party-lists critical of the administration from joining the electoral race.

“If the Comelec wants to ensure that the party-list system is used for the truly marginalized, it should review the basis of Migrante’s de-listing. It is unfathomable for it to deny millions of Overseas Filipino Workers a chance for representation while giving the same chance to fraudulent party-list groups,” said Bragas-Regalado.

OFWs from Migrante Sectoral Party’s 23 chapters abroad, as well as their families here, yesterday launched an international e-mail and text barrage to urge Comelec commissioners to “Let Migrante Run” in the 2010 elections. As the start of the period for filing manifestations for intent to run approaches, the group vowed to intensify the campaign for OFW representation and against Migrante’s de-listing. ###

Reference:
Connie Bragas-Regalado,
Chairperson, 09272157392

Ailyn Abdula,
Media Officer, 09212708994

IAMR in Greece

2009-10-24T10:44:00.002+03:00

Migrante KSA supports this international convention and would possibly send delegates.

International Assembly of Migrants and Refugees set to convene in Athens, Greece

PRESS RELEASE No. 1
2nd IAMR, Athens, Greece
22 October 2009

Migrants and refugees from grassroot organizations from across the world are set to convene in Athens, Greece from Nov. 1-4, at the prestigious Athens University of Economics and Business for the Second International Assembly of Migrants and Refugees (IAMR).

An assembly where migrants and refugees speak for themselves, the IAMR is supported by a broad spectrum of migrants rights advocates, progressive workers' groups and social movements. The Second IAMR will be held in Athens, Greece - in conjunction with the government-led Global Forum on Migration and Development (GFMD) and the Civil Society Organizations (CSO) meeting.

Teresa Gutierez, an officer of the International Migrants' Alliance, one of the major convenors of the Second IAMR, emphasized that as a state-led initiative, the GFMD purports to facilitate dialogue among sending and receiving countries, but in reality, the rich countries dictate the agenda and main thrusts in the GFMD.

“They impose their own self-serving concept of development and define the modalities in “managing” the flow of cross-border migration,” Gutierrez, who comes from Latin America, said.

The First IAMR held in Manila, Philippines last October 2008, embodied the autonomous voice of the migrants and refugees and challenged the GFMD process and its agenda of promoting migration for development through remittances. The 3rd GFMD will be held in Athens, Greece on November 4-5, 2009.

As in the first IAMR in Manila, the Second IAMR slated in Athens, will present the true picture of modern slavery in labor migration and debunk the notion of development by exporting human labor.

Gutierrez also said two things make the GFMD in Athens particularly significant. One, it will take place in the midst of the worst global economic crisis since the Great Depression. And second, it will also take place in Europe where migrant workers particularly the millions of undocumented face an uncertain future in an increasingly unfriendly environment with the imminent implementation in 2010 of the EU Return Directive.

“We are coming to Greece representing the voices of millions of migrants and refugees the world over, and we will firmly argue for our rights and interests with the reason and wisdom inspired by the great Greek philosophers like Plato and Aristotle,” Gutierrez concluded.

The Second IAMR in Athens, Greece will be a four-day gathering that will include plenary discussions, workshops and fora, street mobilizations, bazaar, cultural solidarity, networking and most especially sharing of experiences and action plans among migrants, refugees and advocates.
It will conduct nine workshops on the following topics: impact of the global economic and financial crisis on migrants, situation of women migrant workers, labor rights and social movements, state repression of political asylum seekers and the war on terror, the undocumented and fortress Europe, racism, discrimination, political empowerment of second generation migrants, engaging the UN, and education/campaigns for migrants, refugees and advocates.

The Second IAMR is being convened by - the International Migrants' Alliance (IMA), Migrante International, Migrante Europe, ATIK (Confederation of Workers from Turkey in Europe), Asia Pacific Mission for Migrants (APMM), IBON International, Union of Working People (Greece) and Class March (Greece), in cooperation with progressive Greek groups.

Reference:

Alex Gregorio
Media Officer
IAMR2 Secretariat
Email: mig_europe@yahoo.com,

MSP Rally

2009-10-24T10:40:00.003+03:00

TO ALL COORDINATORS AND MEMBERS, FAMILIES AND FRIENDS:

In light with the COMELEC’s de-listing of MIGRANTE PARTYLIST, we will file a VERIFIED OPPOSITION/MOTION FOR RECONSIDERATION on OCTOBER 26, 2009.

Simultaneously, we will conduct a MASS MOBILIZATION to protest imminent election fraud and cheating in the coming 2010 party-list election.

SCHEDULE:
26 October 2009, Monday
9 am ~ assembly in front of the NATIONAL PRESS CLUB (NPC)
10 am ~ march to COMELEC
10:30am ~ PROGRAM

Everyone is invited to join us on this event. Please mobilize members of your organization, your families, friends and/or advocates.

EXPOSE AND OPPOSE ALL FORMS OF ELECTORAL FRAUD AND CHEATING!
DELIST MALACANANG-BACKED PSEUDO-PARTY-LISTS!
FIGHT FOR GENUINE SECTORAL REPRESENTATION!

THANK YOU!

Migrante Sectoral Partylist (MSP)
#10 Banuyo St. Brgy. Amihan, Proj.3,
Quezon City, Philippines
Telefax: 911-49-10
Cellphone Hotline: 0921.270.90.79
Email: migrantepartylist@ymail.com, migrantepartylist@gmail.com

Connie Bragas-Regalado
MSP Chairperson
0927.215.73.92

Delisting MSP, a mockery

2009-10-19T19:00:00.004+03:00

News Release
20 October 2009

Delisting Migrante Sectoral Party, a mockery of the intent of Party List Law -Migrante
Black Friday launched

"Removing Migrante Sectoral Party (MSP) in the list of accredited groups in the 2010 Partylist elections is a mockery of the intent behind the Party List Law," thus declared Migrante Saudi Arabia Chairperson A. M. Ociones as the group calls October 23 a Black Friday in protest of the recent decision of the Commission of Elections (COMELEC) En-banc Resolution No. 8679 delisting MSP along with 25 other groups.

"By removing MSP from the list of groups accredited to participate in the Partylist elections, COMELEC marginalized the migrants even more," asserts Ociones. "Definitely, this is contrary to the real intent of the Partylist Law of encouraging the participation of the un-represented and marginalized sectors of society in the democratic process of nation-building."

The decision dated 13 October 2009, removed MSP "for failing to get the required two percentum (2%) of the total votes cast in the two preceding elections" (2004 and 2007), based on the provisions of Sec 6, no. 8 of RA 7941, otherwise known as the Partylist Law, as affirmed by COMELEC Resolution No. 2847 dated 25 June 1996.

Since MSP ran and lost in the 2004 elections but did not participate as a candidate in the 2007 elections, Ociones asks "whether the said rules apply to Migrante Partylist at all."

And by issuing the Resolution without any consultation with the concerned parties, Ociones asks further whether "COMELEC based its decision on a technicality to cover its agenda of degrading the confidence of OFW's in the country's political system and pushing the migrants sector to the outer fringes of democratic participation."

"The OFW as a sector has been the largest demographic group without any representation in the political arena for the longest time," Ociones explains. "With its remittances bouying the economy afloat, OFWs however have been mostly cynical of the current political and economic system."

According to Ociones, MSP represents the broadest ever possible network of OFW organizations with chapters in at least 35 countries around the world and in the 13 regions of the country. In Saudi Arabia, MSP chapters have been active in organizing and advocating issues from the homefront and of OFW concerns in Riyadh, Jeddah, Al Khobar, Dawadmi, Al Jouf, Jubail, Dammam, Hail and Khamis Mushayt.

"With the proven track record of Migrante in fiscalizing the government to act in favor, and respond to the most pressing needs of OFWs, getting MSP in the next Congress as Party-list representative is the greatest hope the Filipino migrants can ever achieve," Ociones closed.

Black Friday Protest

"Delisting MSP means delisting OFWs in the political arena," Migrante Jeddah Chairperson Bob Fajarito exclaims. "Thus, every OFW is encouraged to express their disappointment with the COMELEC decision by wearing black this Friday."

In holding the Black Friday protest, Migrante Saudi Arabia chapters would hold various assemblies in discreet locations, send protest letters and launch a petition asking the COMELEC to reconsider its decision.

According to Fajarito, they are also encouraging like-minded OFWs to send protest letters to COMELEC via email. The petition and instructions on how to send the protest letters would be available at this blog: http://migrante-ksa.blogspot.com or at their Facebook account soon.

In a related development, Migrante chapter Kapatiran sa Gitnang Silangan (KGS) started holding indoor assemblies in different discreet locations in Riyadh as early as Monday (19 October) to express their disappointment over the delisting. ###

Reference/s:

Bob Fajarito
Chairperson, Migrante Jeddah
Tel No. +966 50-274-5340

A. M. Ociones
Chairperson, Migrante KSA
(Migrante International - Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Chapter)
Tel. No.: +966-56-679-3202
Email: migrante_ksa@yahoo.com
URL: http://migrante-ksa.blogspot.com

Prosecute Illegal Recruitment Agencies!

2009-10-19T17:57:00.002+03:00

19 October 2009
PRESS RELEASE

“PROSECUTE RECRUITMENT AGENCIES ENGAGED IN ILLEGAL RECRUITMENT!”

This was the challenge issued by Migrante International, together with repatriated workers from the Annasban company in Riyadh and the construction workers from a Filipino-owned Ashley Alexis Company in Maldives who trooped to the POEA to file mass complaints against their respective recruitment agencies.

The repatriated workers have experienced gross violations in their employment contracts, poor working condition and non-payment of their wages. They are seeking to file administrative complaints against their agencies as part of the measures they intend to take in their pursuit of justice. They are also fighting to bring their co-workers still stranded abroad home to the Philippines.

“Through these complaints, we are putting the POEA on notice that we shall be closely monitoring how they will respond to these cases,” Garry Martinez, chairperson of the largest organization of Filipino migrants, declared. “Time and again, we have seen how POEA decisions have favored recruitment agencies more than OFWs.”

Martinez cited the Annasban company as one of the companies which seem to be favored by the POEA. The company has gained some notoriety among OFWs here and in Riyadh because it has been the subject of many complaints of gross violations of contracts in the past and yet has not been given any sanctions at all by the POEA.

“What is going on in the POEA? Why can recruitment agencies such as these continue to ply their evil deeds, right under the noses of POEA officials? Why are there so many illegal recruitment cases victimizing thousands of OFWs?” queried Martinez.

“We have had enough! This time, we will be setting up a POEA Watch. We shall make a count of how many recruitment agencies with various cases of illegal recruitment the POEA has allowed to go unpunished! The public will definitely hear about this,” Martinez continued.

The organization is now consulting lawyers’ groups about the filing of a case against the inaction of POEA officials on illegal recruitment cases.###

Reference:
Garry Martinez, Chairperson, 09393914418
Ailyn Abdula, Media Officer, 09212708994

Migrante Canada on Delisting of Migrante PL

2009-10-18T06:30:00.000+03:00

COMELEC’s decision delisting the Migrante Sectoral Party:
Suppression of rights of a party that seeks to represent in the House of Representatives the millions of Filipino migrants around the world

MIGRANTE CANADA
Press Release
October 16, 2009
Toronto, Canada

Migrante Canada denounces in the strongest possible terms the decision of the Commission on Elections [COMELEC] to delist the Migrante Sectoral Party (MSP) from the list of registered organizations vying in next year’s party-list election.

“This COMELEC decision is unjust and anomalous,” says Marco Luciano, Migrante International Global Council representative for Canada. “Not only is it a violation of due process leading to the disenfranchisement of a group that has truly served the interests of Filipino migrant workers and their families the world over. It opens the door for the Malacanang-backed party-list groups to dominate the coming party-list election, thus serving the ruling administration’s objective of prolonging its rule.”

What ever happened to due process?

In its Resolution No. 8679 issued October 13, 2009, the COMELEC en banc ordered to delete Migrante and 25 other groups “from the list of registered national, regional or sectoral parties, organizations or coalitions” citing Section 6, item No. 8 of the Republic Act 7941 otherwise known as the Party-List System Act.

This particular section of the Party-List System Act allows the COMELEC to motu propio - "on its own impulse" - remove a sectoral group or party BUT ONLY “after due notice and hearing” if “it fails to participate in the last two (2) preceding elections OR fails to obtain at least two percentum (2%) of the votes cast under the party-list system in the two (2) preceding elections.”

However, the MSP was never guilty of such failures in two preceding elections - in 2004 and 2007.

The MSP participated in the 2004 partylist election, but, unfortunately, failed to garner the required 2% of the votes cast. Then the MSP did not participate in the 2007 election after formally informing the COMELEC months before the election. The failure to gain the two percentum of votes happened only once - in 2004 - not twice, not in two preceding elections; and the "failure" to participate in the election happened only once - in 2007 - not twice, not in two preceding elections. It is therefore erroneous, if not malicious, for the COMELEC to delist the MSP and other sectoral groups on the basis of Section 6, Item 8 of RA 7941.

“Moreover, the COMELEC’s en banc decision is tantamount to suppressing the rights of a party that seeks nothing but to represent in the House of Representatives the millions of Filipino migrants all over the world,” Luciano adds. The MSP announced in September its intention to run again in the party-list election, cognizant of “existing policies and laws that are detrimental to the interest of migrant Filipinos and in order for Overseas Filipino Workers [OFWs] to be represented by their own partylist.”

“Why disenfranchise the MSP which has been in the forefront of helping many distressed OFWs and their families since its formation in 1996?” says Luciano, noting the courageous work of Migrante and its allied organizations in many parts of the world.

If the COMELEC wants to unload itself of election work next year, they should have made efforts to get rid of many sham party-list groups, like Bantay and Kasangga, supportive of the Macapagal-Arroyo regime while masquerading as representatives of the marginalized sectors. Let the axe fall on these bogus groups, but not on the Migrante Sectoral Party which truly represents the interest of the Filipino migrants.

“We call on all Filipino migrants around the world to condemn the COMELEC’s unjust decision,” Jonathan Canchela, chair of the Filipino Migrant Workers’ Movement [FMWM], said in a separate statement.

“We encourage them to voice out their opinions against this oppressive decision delisting the MSP from the list of qualified sectoral groups hoping to participate in the electoral process next year. Let the dissenting voices of the Filipino migrants be heard,” says Canchela, who also announced that FMWM and other Migrante Canada member organizations are planning to launch consolidated protest actions in response to this decision of the COMELEC.«

Reference:
Jonathan Canchela – Tel: 647.833.1023

GABRIELA-USA Demands Justice

2009-10-17T18:18:00.000+03:00

Migrante Saudi Arabia supports this statement and condemns the continued aggression by US and allied forces against the people in Iraq and Afghanistan!

Data & Photos of US Military Forces Raping an Iraqi Girl Emerges;
GABRIELA-USA Demands Justice

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 16, 2009

On October 3, 2009 graphic and disturbing photos of the brutal rape of a 14 year old Iraqi girl emerged via confidential source and caught media attention. The photos show US Soldiers in the 101st Airborne Division forcibly holding down and gang raping the Iraqi girl. The girl and her family, including a five year old child, were murdered.

This brutal event occurred back in March 2006, and one of the killers, Steven Green, was found guilty on May 7, 2009 and awaits sentencing. Women's rights advocates expose the link between the War on Terror and the increasing rates of violence committed against women and children abroad. Elaine Villasper, a GABRIELA USA Vice Chair, stated, "This is enraging. Wherever the U.S. military goes, the rates of prostitution and sexual violence escalates. It's time to stop the U.S. war machine."

The story and three photos, which had been withheld from the public, is a deep reminder that the United States has had a long history of brutality against women and children during times of war. The presence of US military forces has always corresponded with an increase in human rights violations. US military forces employ the vicious and sadistic tactics of raping, torturing, and murdering women and children as a weapon of war, meant to exert power and control over a country and to beat it’s people into submission.

Hundreds more photos were set to be released this year, under the support and urging of President Obama, but he later abruptly changed his position and moved to block the release of the photos instead. In May 2009 Obama stated that releasing the photos could "further inflame anti-American opinion" and endanger U.S. forces in Iraq and Afghanistan.

President Obama recently won the Nobel Peace Prize but Joanne Alcantara of Pinay Sa Seattle argued that, “if Obama truly wanted to support peace amongst people, then he should pull out US troops as soon as possible from countries such Iraq, Afghanistan, and the Philippines. Obama should also seek justice for the raped victim and convict the rapists.”

GABRIELA advocates fought hard for the conviction and sentencing of U.S. Lance Corporal Daniel Smith who was found guilty of raping "Nicole," a young woman in the Philippines, in 2005. After struggling for three years and not being able to get justice from the Philippine Courts or the U.S. military, Nicole eventually withdrew her case. However, Terrie Cervas, of SiGAw in Los Angeles stated, "We will continue to tirelessly wage this struggle for third world women. We will continue to resist so that the illegal presence of US military troops in Iraq, the Philippines, and elsewhere ends.”

GABRIELA USA, including Filipinas for Rights and Empowerment (New York), Babae (San Francisco), Sisters of GABRIELA, Awaken! (Los Angeles), and Pinay sa Seattle demand the immediate end to rape and sexual violence by the U.S. military in all its encounters. GABRIELA USA further demands the immediate withdrawal of U.S. Troops in Iraq, Afghanistan and the Philippines, and the end of the U.S. War of Terror.

Reference: Raquel Redondiez, Chair, GABRIELA USA
(415) 244-9734, http://us.mc577.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=gabrielawomen@gmail.com

MSP Delisting Attack on Progressives

2009-10-17T12:39:00.000+03:00

Press Release
16 October 2009

COMELEC delisting of Migrante Partylist not only an attack to progressive OFWs organizations but also denying OFWs the right to have a genuine representation in Congress –Migrante-ME

“COMELEC delisting of the most active OFWs groups’ party-list –the Migrante Partylist supported by grass roots OFWs organizations and chapters of Migrante International with proven track records of defending and upholding OFWs rights and welfare, is not only an attack to progressive OFWs organizations but also to the 10-M OFWs and their families of their right to have a genuine representation in Congress,” thus said today by John Leonard Monterona, Migrante-Middle East regional coordinator and Migrante Partylist Vice Chairperson.

Monterona, a Saudi-based OFW working for more than 5 years as a construction site office staff, said COMELEC ruling delisting Migrante Partylist is a slap on the real intent of the Partylist System Act (R.A. 7941) of democratizing the law-making process in the legislative branch of the government to allow marginalized sector like OFWs to elect their representatives that would put forward their sectoral agenda and to better serve its interest in the law making process and push for the needed reforms.Monterona opined that the Party list System Act is another arena for OFWs and their families, pushing for genuine reforms allowing them to further advance and protect the rights and welfare of the sector which Migrante is serving.

“It is the continued neglect and failure of the past administrations and of the present Arroyo administration to protect the rights and well being of OFWs that pushes grass roots OFWs organizations under the largest alliance of Migrante International to participate again in the Party-list election to genuinely represents OFWs in Congress by legislating pro-OFWs and their families’ agenda,” Monterona added.

Meanwhile, Migrante-Middle East lambasted COMELEC law department head Atty. Ferdinand Rafanan when he was asked by a TV host during an early morning show today why Migrante Party list was delisted, but Atty. Rafanan failed give a clear answer to the question. (kindly follow link http://www.gmanews.tv/video/49385/comelec-delists-26-party-list-groups).

“It is sad to know that even the COMELEC Law Department head does not know why Migrante Party list was delisted which lead us to suspect that Migrante’s delisting is more of COMELEC’s partisan political act not allowing Migrante to participate in the May 2010 party-lists elections because it is very critical to the Arroyo administration rather than basing its ruling on the provision of R.A. 7941 and its implementing rules,” Monterona argued.

Monterona said it should be the Arroyo administration-backed party lists are the first to be disqualified such as Bantay (Jovito Palparan), ANAD (Jun Alcover), Kasangga (Ma. Lourdes Arroyo), among others as they did not even have clear marginal sector’s representation; unlike Migrante which has been all year round since 1986 handling the cases of Flor Contemplacion and the many others who have been abused and maltreated OFWs continuously defending and upholding OFWs and their families rights, welfare and well being amid government continued neglect and lip service to the sector that is keeping the economy afloat.

“Migrante chapters around the world and at the home front are preparing for a legal battle when it file its legal action against COMELEC ruling delisting Migrant Party list next week and it will be accompanied by coordinated rallies and various forms of protest actions until COMELEC will reverse its wrong decision delisting Migrante party list,” Monterona added.

“With its proven tract records genuinely serving OFWs and their families, Migrante will surely win the support of OFWs and their families back home joining us win this battle,” Monterona ended. # # #

Reference:
John Leonard Monterona
Migrante Middle East regional coordinator
Migrante Partylist, Vice Chairperson
Mobile No.: 00966 564 97 8012

Comelec delisted 26 partylist without due process – Migrante

2009-10-14T16:07:00.001+03:00

14 October 2009
PRESS RELEASE:

Comelec delisted 26 partylist without due process – Migrante

The global alliance of Filipino migrant organizations assailed the Comelec for failing to conduct any hearing before removing 26 partylist groups from the list of registered national, regional or sectoral parties, organizations or coalitions.

"The Comelec decision is highly irregular since it veered away from the process where partylist are only removed from the list after due notice and hearing as provided by law. This time, however, the Comelec issued a resolution to remove 26 partylist groups first then asked concerned parties to just submit written opposition if there are any. This is unacceptable," Garry Martinez, chairperson of Migrante International exclaimed.

Martinez was pertaining to the Comelec’s en banc resolution no. 8679 that was issued October 13, 2009, ordering the removal of partylist groups who allegedly failed to comply with Section 6, item no. 8 of Republic Act 7941, otherwise known as the Partylist System Act.

The said provision cites the grounds for the exclusion of partylist which failed to participate in two preceding election or failed to obtain at least two percentum of the votes cast in the two preceding elections.

"In addition to the lack of due process, the Comelec likewise committed a gross mistake when it removed 5 of the 26 partylist just because they failed to get 2 percent in one election and was not able to participate in another election. This clearly negates the qualifier in the provision wherein the instance of failure should be committed twice and in two preceding elections,” Martinez asserted.

The group explained that the Comelec is now getting desperate in its aim to shorten the list of participating partylist groups in the 2010 elections. There are about 150 partylist groups that participated in the last 2007 elections while more than 300 new partylist groups have filed their petition for registration this year.

“If the Comelec found the list of participating partylist groups ridiculously too long for the coming election, it has no other one to blame but itself. It was the sole agency that approved the registration of those partylist who cannot even be considered as part of the marginalized sector as defined in the Constitution. The Comelec’s desperate scheme to reduce the numbers of participating partylist groups at present should not be done at the expense of the true and legitimate representatives of marginalized sectors,” Martinez protested.

Migrante, Abanse Pinay, AK, PCDO-ACTO and PGBI were the five partylist groups which have not committed two instances of failure to participate or failure to obtain 2% votes in two preceding elections yet were still deleted in the list by the Comelecs en banc resolution.

"This is anomalous and we will certainly file a formal protest against this Comelec resolution. Unfortunately, it is only the Malacanang backed partylist groups who are going to benefit from this Comelec decision while legitimate representatives of the marginalized sectors of our society are getting denied of their right to due proccess," lamented Martinez.

Last 2007 election, Comelec Chairman Abalos refused to heed the calls of different groups to reveal the nominees of participating partylist groups being suspected as mere fronts of Malacanang. Among them were Maria Lourdes Arroyo, sister of First Gentleman Mike Arroyo, of Ang Kasangga Partylist, and Jovito Palparan of Bantay Partylist who both were given a seat in congress after the Supreme Court decision last April.

Other partylist groups that were delisted by the Comelec resolution are Aging Pinoy, Ahonbayan, AKSA, Akapin, Asap, A Smile, Assalam, BTM, Bahandi,Cocofed, Grecon, Nelffi, PMAP, SM, Sanlakas, SPI, Suara, Anak Mahirap, and Aba Ako Partylist.

Reference:
Garry Martinez, Chairperson, 09393914418

--
http://migrantecampaign.ning.com
#10 Banuyo St.Brgy.Amihan, Project 3, Quezon City
Telefax: 9114910

No to Conejos appointment

2009-10-12T11:04:00.001+03:00

October 12, 2009
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

No to Conejos appointment to Geneva post - Migrante

A global alliance of Filipino migrant workers groups criticized the Arroyo administration’s expected move to appoint Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Undersecretary Esteban Conejos as Philippine Ambassador to the United Nations in Geneva even without undergoing confirmation process at the Commission on Appointments.

Calling the UN appointment as Conejos’ “consolation prize from Mrs. Arroyo,” Migrante International however said Conejos’ appointment to the UN post will not provide any consolation for Filipinos most especially the Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs).

“Conejos’ appointment to the United Nations is a face-saving measure for Mrs. Arroyo and Usec. Conejos after he sorely failed to win the Deputy Director General position at the International Organization for Migration (IOM) last year,” said Garry Martinez, Migrante International Chairperson.

Martinez noted that “it was no less than Arroyo herself” who led the Philippines’ campaign to help Conejos win the IOM (International Organization for Migration) seat in 2008. He however, lost to Ambassador Laura Thompson Chacón of Costa Rica last June 2009.

“It isn’t a surprise for us if Mrs. Arroyo, in her desperation to reward Conejos for his exemplary slave trading skills as Chairperson of the 2nd Global Forum on Migration and Development held in Manila last year, is determined to give Conejos the juicy UN post even if this would mean violating constitutional provisions on diplomatic appointments,” he said.

Philippine Foreign Service officers were up in arms recently and were particularly riled at Malacanang’s “pernicious practice of by-passing the confirmation process for appointees,” saying that it “has trivialized the constitutional requirement of confirmation of ambassadors.”

John Leonard Monterona, Migrante Middle-East Coordinator, meanwhile expressed support to UNIFORS (Union of Foreign Service Officers) “as they have all the right to protect their ranks against Arroyo’s gross abuse of her appointing power.

“Migrante International vows to block Conejos’ appointment to the UN as we have successfully done when we led international efforts to prevent him from securing a seat at the IOM. We strongly believe that Conejos is a walking menace and a threat to the lives and livelihood of migrant workers and their families worldwide and that he does not even deserve even his current position as Undersecretary for Migrant Workers Affairs.” Martinez said. ###

Reference:
Garry Martinez, Chairperson, 09393914418
Ailyn Abdula, Media Officer, 09212708994

Statement on Food Crisis and Climate Change

2009-10-12T05:11:00.000+03:00

Migrante KSA fully supports the following Unity Statement issued by the Conference on Food Crisis and Climate Change.

CONFERENCE CONFRONTING FOOD CRISIS AND CLIMATE CHANGE,

27-29 SEPTEMBER 2009, PENANG, MALAYSIA

UNITY STATEMENT
We, 113 participants from 22 countries representing peasants, small farmers, agricultural workers, women, indigenous peoples’, fisherfolk organizations, and health, environmental and consumers CSOs met in the Conference on Confronting the Food Crisis and Climate Change from 27-29 September, 2009 in Penang, Malaysia.

We met in the midst of the worst global recession of the century and a global financial crisis. This is the worst in the cycle of crises of monopoly capitalism, now manifesting in the collapse of global financial institutions and speculative international markets. Another consequence of monopoly capitalism is the global food crisis which is compounded by climate crisis. With the collapse of food self-sufficiency due to globalization, the massive speculation in the global commodities market and the expansion of agrofuel policies have resulted in spiraling food prices and hence, the food crisis.

The climate crisis has been caused by unprecedented unsustainable industrial development, chemical intensive agriculture and overproduction under monopoly capitalism mainly in the developed countries since the last 200 years and intensified in the last 3 decades. Both the food and climate crises are exacerbated by imperialist globalization, a process to ensure the expansion of markets for excess goods and capital to secure super profits. The over-consumption and unsustainable lifestyles of affluent societies have further contributed to the crises.

In food and agriculture, the globalization process has intensified the expansion of corporate monopoly control over the food chain from production to marketing and the exploitation of rural labour, natural resources and biodiversity. It has further marginalized and impoverished indigenous peoples, women, dalits, small and marginal farmers, and fishers. Corporate monopoly of agriculture through the collusion of landlords, autocratic and corrupt governments and other elites has caused great misery for peasants and other rural people. Governments have reneged on their responsibility to uphold the rights and welfare of the people.

The food and climate crises indicate the failure of the FAO, CGIAR, IFIs and national governments in addressing hunger and perpetuating the paradigm of toxic, unsustainable growth for profit. The call by G8 countries for a new global governance on food and agriculture in response to food crisis is a renewed offensive that will only further entrench corporate control on food and agriculture production. Subsequently, the current initiative for the World Summit on Food Security in Rome in November 2009 drives the same agenda of corporate agriculture. Despite the fact that the World Food Summit in 1996, the corporate model of agriculture was heralded as the solution to end world hunger and it brought us the food crisis and increased hunger for our people.

Corporate farming systems such as plantations, intensive aquaculture and livestock systems, floriculture, contract farming and now, agrofuel production, perpetuate the over-exploitation and pollution of lands, forests, seeds, waters, marine resources and other natural resources that have been the sources of livelihood for small food producers. Moreover, the resultant loss of biodiversity and the diminishing number of crop varieties grown worldwide are major concerns for small producers who depend on such biodiversity for their survival. The introduction and forced expansion of genetically engineered crops (GE) is increasingly threatening the agro-biodiversity in the fields and, reports of health impacts and environmental contamination by GE crops are cause for grave concern. Hazardous pesticides and chemicals also harm human health and the environment.

Moreover, climate change adversely impacts food production, deepens the food crisis and exacerbates rural poverty, joblessness and misery, as people face crop losses through droughts, floods and climatic disasters. In the meantime, corporations including agrochemical and agribusiness companies are continuing their unsustainable form of production through “carbon trading” schemes. Worse, they have seized the opportunity to amass more profits with the use of public funds in so-called carbon emissions reduction technologies and projects. Adaptation and mitigation technologies are not the final solutions to climate crisis. The final solution is through people-oriented ecological development. This should be the target for adaptation funding through mechanisms that are directly channelled to communities rather than through the World Bank and its corporate-oriented technologies. This will meet the principle of compensation for centuries of ecological debt of the North to the South.

In the face of the greater challenges posed by the food crisis and climate change, the people now have to struggle even more to confront oppressive structures and institutions.

As we, women, face the greatest burden from calamities, war, crises and displacement, we must struggle harder against patriarchy, fundamentalisms and extremisms, and endeavor for full participation and involvement.

As we, peasants, lose our livelihood and land, and are forcibly exiled from our communities, we have to fight much harder against the onslaught of corporate land grabbing and for our rights.

As we, agricultural workers, continue to slave in pesticide-drenched corporate farms and plantations, we need to struggle even more for our rights, jobs, lives and livelihoods.

As we, the fisher people, are further displaced by corporate fishing and intensive industrial aquaculture as well as corporate coastal and offshore development projects, we have to struggle even more to conserve, gain access, manage and control marine and aquatic resources as well as fishing implements.

As we, indigenous peoples, lose our ancestral domains due to land grabbing and corporate exploitation, we have to defend our indigenous knowledge, ancestral history and legends, culture and our very lives.

As we, the working people as consumers, deprived of nutritious, safe, adequate, culturally appropriate food and pushed to unnatural and unsustainable lifestyles, we must strive even more to tackle the negative effects of all crises and, exert our right to food and our responsibilities as conscious, ethical and ecological consumers.

We will be resolute in our struggle to put people and the planet first over profits. We will work together to regenerate and restore nature and society.

We have gathered now to further strengthen and consolidate our movements to advance food sovereignty, gender justice and climate justice. We will work with full dedication and commitment to:

Fully resist corporate monopoly control over food and agriculture;
Advocate for the establishment of compensatory funds to support communities’ capacity to address the impact of climate change;
Advance genuine agrarian, fisheries, forestry and pastoral reforms that ensure gender justice and the rights of women to land and productive resources;
Assert food self-sufficiency in our societies and stop land use conversions;
Advance the rights of indigenous peoples over ancestral land and domains as well as protect and uphold indigenous knowledge and wisdom as basis of ecological agriculture and sustainable development;
Defend the rights of marginalized communities, ethnic minorities and Dalits.
Stop the killings of and violence against peasants, agricultural workers, fisherfolks and indigenous peoples struggling for their peoples’ rights;
Ensure market access for the poor and marginalized people, and fair price for their harvests;
Promote local knowledge particularly the nurturing values and expand biodiversity-based ecological food production as foundation for food self-sufficiency;
Promote and support community-based seed and grain conservation systems;
Build stronger links between consumers and small food producers to promote the production and consumption of affordable, local, ecologically produced and safe food, and to work towards ethical consumption and sustainable lifestyles;
Protect the rights and well-being of agricultural workers and their communities, and ensure fair wages for them;
Promote pro-people, farmer-led research technologies and institutions;
Resist imperialist globalization, fundamentalism, feudalism, patriarchy, militarization and, autocratic and corrupt governments, and end racial, caste and all other forms of discrimination.
Endorse the People’s Protocol on Climate Change which provides the framework of our demands for climate justice based on the principles of social justice, sovereignty, respect for the environment, gender justice and, responsibility and call for an economic system that is sovereign, socially just, democratic and ecologically sustainable.

We claim our right and, the right of all excluded and marginalized people, to restore and recover the regenerative ability of nature by reorienting our methods of production, consumption and marketing. We deviate from the present destructive processes of greedy exploitation of humans and nature to ensure the long-term survival of all life forms. We endeavor to heal the earth.

We call for the people’s right to food and uphold People’s Convention on Food Sovereignty* as the sustainable framework for food production and distribution, and for national and international trade and investment policies.

Reference:
Sarojeni V. Rengam
Pesticide Action Network Asia and the Pacific
P.O. Box 1170, 10850, Penang, Malaysia
Contact Number: +604 657 0271 or +604 656 0381
Email: panap@panap.net
Website: www.panap.net

* as adopted during the People’s Convention on Food Sovereignty held in Dhaka, Bangladesh on 27th November, 2004

Appeal from Central Luzon

2009-10-10T12:13:00.006+03:00

Citizens Disaster Response NGO in Central Luzon Appeals for help

AlayBayan, Inc., a community based disaster response NGO calls for urgent assistance in helping flooded communities in Central Luzon including Pangasinan.

They are especially requesting for food and medical supplies for the following activities:

~ Oct 11: Medical Mission and Relief Distribution for some 85 beneficiary families at Pulong Bahay, Quezon (Nueva Ecija).

~ Oct 13, 14 & 15: Relief Distribution for the 1,510 families affected in
Brgys. Carael, Paco, San Juan, San Miguel, Capayawan and Batonlapoc, all in
Botolan (Zambales).

~ Third week of October: Relief Distribution for three affected barangays in San Simon, Pampanga

After San Roque Dam released its waters, appeals for assistance from various communities in Pangasinan flooded AlayBayan (details to follow). Until now, 85 families in flooded barangays of Nampicuan, Nueva Ecija and other urban poor communities in Cabanatuan City, Nueva Ecija are still awaiting assistance.

So far, Alay Bayan Inc. has already conducted relief distribution in Arayat (Pampanga) on 07 Oct 2009 serving 293 families and Marilao (Bulacan) on 03 Oct benefitting 1,055 families based on the limited resources they have.

Your assistance therefore, would be of great importance in order to alleviate the plight of our kababayans.

You may deposit your cash donations at:

Alay Bayan Inc.,
MetroBank A/C No. 052-3-05241291
Metrobank Main Branch - Henzon St.
Angeles City, Pampanga,
SWIFT Code: MBTC PHMM
Routing No.: 026002846

Donations in kind may be sent to their office at:

Alay Bayan Inc.,
#54 Rue de Paree St., L & S Subdivision,
Angeles City (Pampanga) Philippines
Tel. No.: +6345-304-0340
E-mail: alaybayan@gmail.com
Contact Person: Willem L. Geertman, Executive Director

For further details, please contact Willem L. Geertman at Tel. No. +6345-304-0340 or ABI Staff Loren Villareal at +639182329448.

OFWs in Eastern Region Unite

2009-10-06T16:57:00.001+03:00

Press Release
7 October 2009

Filipino Community and their Organizations in Saudi Eastern Region united for a common cause:
Gathering relief goods, cash for typhoon victims

Different Filipino Organizations in Al Khobar, Eastern Region of Saudi Arabia, have gathered yesterday night at Al Andalus International School to assess how far they have gone since first meeting on September 28, 2009 as a response to the call made by Migrante-Middle East to initiate a donation drive for typhoon “Ondoy” victims.

“The outpouring of support from OFWs in all professions is overwhelming; every participating organization had brought their own share of donations, in cash and in kind –a manifestation that helping the victims of typhoon is every body’s business, and so we did,” said Gerry de Guzman, Migrante-Al Khobar Chapter Secretary-General.

Last night Filipino Community leaders’ meeting was facilitated by Labor Attache David Des Dicang.

Aside from Migrante-Al Khobar, the following organizations were also present: Bulakenyo Community, Eastern Region OFW Congress, AFSCOM, Alpha Phi Omega Fraternity, Al-Andalos School (Teachers & Staff), the Filipino Pop (Filipino Pop Music Association) under Dr. Molina, Worley Parsons Co. Filipino Employees, Dammam Med. Tower, PAGASA Association, GUARDIANS Eastern Region Association, AAIS association, Dubaib & Sulaim Co. Filipino Employees, ABQIAQ community, JAL, SI Samahang Ilocano, PSME association, IECEP association, UFBF association, RASA association, Filipino Bowlers association, Ras Tanura Fil. Com. Association, ROFNA Bowling Association, ASOC association, RC Parishioners, Mrs. Mary Jane Tupaz, Dr. Ronaldo Molina, and the Social Development and Aid Organization (SDAO).

The meeting was attended by more than 80 OFW leaders.

“The cash on hand collected by the council and Filipino Community leaders as at 6:00p.m. October 4, 2009 is 31,978 (Thirty One Thousand nine hundred seventy eight) Saudi Riyal, while there are already 57 boxes of goods at the warehouse of Al-Andalus International School as reported,” de Guzman added.

The Filipino Community leaders agreed to cut the donations drive until October 10, 2009; cash donations will be remitted in the afternoon of October 10 as well as the boxes of goods.

The Filipino Community leaders have agreed to send their donations to the Local Government Units (LGUs) through its local Social welfare and development offices.

“We have indentified the most affected areas as recipient of the donations we have gathered like Cainta, Antipolo, San Mateo in Rizal Province, Dinalupihan in Bataan, Marikina and Pasig in Manila,” said Rod “Choie” De Leon, Migrante-Al Khobar Chairperson.

De Leon said it was agreed by the Filipino Community coordinating council that in order to be transparent in the distribution of their donation the POLO-Eastern Region will officially endorse Migrante International to be witness and could monitor the actual distribution of goods to the intended beneficiaries in every recipient LGUs.

“We have also asked POLO-Eastern Region to communicate with the Bureau of Customs not to confiscate the boxes of relief goods once it reaches the Philippines so that its distribution by the recipient LGUs could take effect without delay,” De leon added.

Migrante-Al Khobar had also get the consensus of the Filipino Community leaders to conduct a symposium on Migrants Rights and Welfare, and Human Rights activity on December 2009, Blood Letting Program and Fun Run for a cause, right after the donations drive for typhoon victims. - end -

References:
Gerry De Guzman
Secretary-General, Migrante-Al Khobar chapter
Mobile No. 00966 50 737 3906

Rod “Choie” De Leon
Chairperson, Migrante-Al Khobar chapter
Mobile No. : 00966 56 911 7563

Benchmark India’s repatriation efforts

2009-10-06T16:54:00.000+03:00

5 October 2009

Efficient and effective repatriation of distress workers
Benchmark India’s repatriation efforts, RP posts told

“One would notice that Indian distress workers in deportation center would only stay for few weeks, unlike the repatriation of distress and stranded OFWs that would usually take 3 to 6 months or even 1 year,” said by John Leonard Monterona, Migrante-Middle East regional coordinator.

Monterona said Migrante-ME learned that Indian Embassy’s Welfare wing has its own effective and efficient mechanism in repatriating its own distress and stranded migrant workers.

“Indian Embassy’s issuance of its so called Emergency Certificates proved to be effective in sending its own distress migrant workers back to India, and this should be bench mark by RP posts to follow the same system in advancing the welfare and interests of our distress and stranded OFWs in the Middle East,” Monterona averred.

Monterona said he learned that Indian Embassy’s Welfare section is issuing Emergency Certificates to all Indian nationals upon proving their national identity by verifying the authenticity of their documents such as passport copy or ration card.

“By doing so, the run away worker would not wait for its employer-sponsor to issue exit clearance as it is there where the waiting take so long; often many employer-sponsor won’t issue exit clearance as they file a counter suit of absconding, considered a crime in most Middle Eastern countries labor laws, against its run away workers who are usually victims of abuses and maltreatment,” Monterona added.

On an average 5,000 emergency certificates are issued by the Indian Embassy every year. “This would mean Indian embassy is sending back to India 5,000 distress workers every year,” Monterona said.

Monterona said instead of long wait or praying at the mercy of the distress worker’s employer-sponsor to issue exit clearance, the RP post concerned should issue same of Indian’s Emergency Certificate to its distress and run away OFWs.

“If the Indian Embassy were able to do so by issuing Emergency Certificate to its distress and stranded migrant workers, why our government under the Arroyo administration through different RP posts in the Middle East could not do the same especially if it is for the welfare and interest of our distress OFWs who were victims of labor malpractices, abuses and maltreatment?” Monterona asked.

Monterona said Philippine diplomats, consular or labor, should represent the best interests and welfare of our millions OFWs who contribute a lot to our economy.

Monterona further said RP posts should think for ways and means advancing the welfare and interests of our Overseas Filipinos and OFWs, and through diplomatic course of action, diplomacy as their expertise, attain the very objective of putting forward the best interests of our OFWs.

“By doing the same efforts of the Indian Embassy in Saudi Arabia, RP posts could solve the long perennial problem of repatriating distress and stranded OFWs, usually take 6 months to 1 year, in different deportation centers in the Middle East,” Monterona.

Monterona said there are still more than 80 plus stranded inside the deportation center in Jeddah based on Migrante's close estimates, those in Cell no.1 keeps on calling and texting Migrante that the OWWA did not to provide them food and medicines.“To OWWA Administrator Dimzon: organize your OWWA team in Jeddah and instruct them to provide foods and medicines to those who are still in Hajj deportation center, while the PCG should not stop to facilitate their repatriation,” the OFW leader added.

“The problem is the Arroyo administration itself that just pay lip service to our so called “Bagong Bayani” and failed to direct and supervise its Foreign department to put forward and advance the welfare and interest of OFWs as its primary concern, not just selling our human labor as cheap as an exported commodity,” Monterona ended. # # #

Reference:
John Leonard Monterona
Migrante Middle East regional coordinator
Migrante Sectoral Party Vice Chairperson
Mobile No.: 00966 564 97 8012

OFWs say no to text tax!

2009-10-06T11:49:00.004+03:00

Migrante KSA protests the imposition of text tax, in its various forms, as an additional burden to OFWs who rely on SMS as a means to connect with families in the Philippines. In the face of recent disastrous events brought by Typhoon Ondoy and Pepeng, the backhand way this new and worse proposal of taxing 10% of gross SMS receipts also show the gross callousness of the legislators to the plight of Filipinos.

OFWs say no to text tax!

Migrante Saudi Arabia

With thanks from TxtPower.Org for the image and statement below:

PRESS STATEMENT
October 6, 2009

House surprises public with new text tax bill, worse than original proposal

By Anthony Ian Cruz
TXTPower President

Today, the House Committee on Ways and Means surreptitiously changed its text tax bill. If before, the proponents wanted P0.05 in additonal tax per text message, they now want ten percent of gross receipts of all messages we consumers buy.

In the middle of a state of calamity, some congressmen seem to have worked overtime to hammer out a new text tax bill to oppress the public, instead of providing relief to victims of typhoons Ondoy and Pepeng. It was also an outrage that the proponent and Chairman Exequiel Javier opportunistically and cavalierly used the calamity to justify the new tax.

To the House panel, we say: We say an unconditional no to any new tax in whatever form or shape. Your new bill is worse than the original one you wished to ram down our throats.

Sham public hearing

In today’s “public hearing”, only the proponents, other congressmen, representatives of the BIR, NTC and a telco were given a chance to speak. Consumer sentiments were neither sought nor heard although TXTPower and another group were there, waiting to be acknowledged.

To make matters worse for the public, Rep. Singson moved that an executive session be held, a motion that seeks to exclude everybody else, especially consumers, from taking part in the deliberations.

Chairman Javier should make this new text tax bill available to the public and have it posted on the House website and ensure truly democratic and participative proceedings in his committee.

Flood of lies

We are not stupid as to believe the fiction that is the alleged no-pass-on-provision which seems impossible to implement and said to be illegal under the law. Nor are we naïve as to fall for the claim that this new tax is good for consumers and the public and that the proponents only have the people, especially schoolchidren, in their mind.. Congressmen must stop this flood of lies.

We urge House members to join us and Deputy Speaker Raul del Mar and Reps. Monico Puentevella, Roilo Golez, Giorgidi Aggabao, Teddy Casino, Rufus Rodriguez, Raymond Palatino, Satur Ocampo, Neri Colmenares, Liza Maza, Luz Ilagan, Rafael Mariano and Joel Maglunsod in questioning and opposing this new text tax bill. ###

OFW thanks DHL

2009-10-06T11:38:00.000+03:00

6 October 2009

Forwarder offers free lift of donated goods for typhoon victims;
OFW groups lauded the move, thankful

Migrante-Jeddah chapter, a local chapter of Migrante-Saudi Arabia in the Western region of Saudi Arabia, today said an international cargo forwarding company has offered its free-service by providing free airfreight of all donated goods for typhoon victims from OFWs organizations.

“Brod, DHL has approved our request along with other OFWs organizations giving us free airfreight service for all the boxes of donated goods we have gathered for typhoon victims by having a special flight this coming Friday, 9 October,” said Bobby Fajarito, Migrante-Jeddah chapter Chairperson sent via SMS to John Leonard Monterona, Migrante-Middle East regional coordinator.

Fajarito said Migrante-Jeddah chapter and other OFWs organizations in an on-going relief drive are very thankful to DHL which upon series of negotiations has approved Migrante and other OFWs organizations’ request giving them a free airfreight services for all the goods collected for typhoon victims.

“Migrante-Jeddah already delivered the 40 boxes of donated goods at DHL warehouse in Jeddah and were accepted by Mr. Jose Wilson Casquejo, DHL’s Operations Supervisor in Western Region, and our fellow OFWs organizations will follow suit in sending their donations to DHL warehouse,” Fajarito added.

Pasalamat

2009-10-04T17:36:00.005+03:00

Lubos na nagpapasalamat ang Migrante Jeddah sa mga taos-pusong nagdonate at naglikom ng donasyon para sa Operation Sagip Migrante para sa mga biktima ng bagyong Ondoy kabilang ang mga sumusunod:

~ Mig Macalino
~ PetroRabigh employees
~ Fatima II Catholic Community
~ Zwoosh Badminton Club
~ Jaguars Badminton Club
~ Al Esayi employees
~ Desert Falcons
~ Smash Arabia Badminton Club-Jeddah
~ Serenata Chorale;
~ Mary's Joy Catholic Community
~ Jesus the Blessed Redeemer International Ministries (JBRIM)
~ Kala Badminton Club
~ Roblomanon Association
~ Al Hamra Boys Club
~ Ate Chat

Nagpapasalamat din po kami sa mga Pilipinong manggagawa sa Red Sea Polyclinic, Jeddah Graphics, Pepsi, Bugshan Hospital, Saudi German Hospital, Farsi Jewelry, ChinaGate Restaurant, Al Hamra Sofitel, McDonalds, Al Hefni Jewelry, at Nesma Holding gayundin sa mga indibidwal katulad nina Jophet (ng SFC Jeddah) Winson, Kuya Larry, Ate Chat at Ate Betchay, na nag-abot ng kani-kanilang maitutulong sa abot ng kanilang makakaya.

Higit sa lahat, nagpapasalamat ang Migrante Jeddah sa DHL para sa kanilang komitment na ipadala ang lahat ng malilikom na relief goods sa ating benepisyaryong Oplan Sagip Migrante sa Pilipinas.

Tuluy-tuloy pa rin po ang paglilikom ng donasyon, in cash and in kind. Makipag-ugnayan lamang po kay Bobby Fajarito sa 0502745340.

Calamity loan? No way!

2009-10-03T18:03:00.001+03:00

October 3, 2009
PRESS RELEASE

Calamity assistance not calamity loans! - Migrante

Calamity loan? No way!

Migrante International (MI) slammed Overseas Workers Welfare Administration’s offer of calamity loans “as it falls short on giving significant relief to our kababayans affected by the storm. This will only put the debts of OFW families from knee-deep to drowning heights. If they really want to help, OWWA should just give away calamity assistance packages.”

According to the Department of Foreign Affairs, donations from the international community has reached P566 million as of October 2. The National Disaster Coordinating Council on the other hand reported the initial total of affected as 512,092 families or 2,506,845 individuals.

Martinez cited the plight of OFW Danilo Catalon, a resident of Marikina City, who was helpless upon hearing the news that his wife was sick and his whole family was staying at the evacuation center in Nangka Elementray School. Their house was completely destroyed by the floods.

Catalon is one of the 200 workers who got stranded in the islands of Maldives. Fourty of them arrived yesterday in Manila “terribly” hungry and without any salary to give to their families.

“Wala na nga silang trabaho, bahay at pagkain, ibabaon pa sila sa pagkakautang,” Martinez lamented.

Migrante International also slammed OWWA’s “unfathomable callousness” in dealing with Catalon’s co-workers from Maldives.

“They languished for 6 months in the island-paradise because not a single assistance was given to them by any Philippine government agency. Not even a bottled water was extended to them upon arrival at the airport. And in the middle of the storm, they were being asked to leave the OWWA shelter,” exclaimed Martinez.

The workers are locals from Isabela, Cagayan, Pangasinan, La Union, Kalinga, Albay and Marinduque, provinces that are presently being hit by typhoon Pepeng. ###

Reference:
Gary Martinez/ Chairperson/ 09393914418
Danilo Catalon/ OFW from Maldives/ 09394911211

Suspend BIR’s DST

2009-10-03T16:52:00.000+03:00

Press Release
04 October 2009

OFW group demands suspension of BIR’s documentary stamp tax on OFW remittance as thousands OFW families, dependents devastated by typhoon “Ondoy”

Migrante-Middle East, an alliance of overseas Filipino workers’ organizations in the Middle East today demanded from the Arroyo government to suspend the charging of the Bureau on Internal Revenue’s (BIR) documentary stamp tax on OFW remittances providing relief to OFW families and dependent hit hard by typhoon “Ondoy”.

“Suspension of the BIR’s documentary stamp tax which is 0.05% imposed for every US$200 remitted by OFW would give ease to OFWs families and dependents; this amount will be better spent by OFW families and dependent for their most basic need such as foods,” said John Leonard Monterona, Migrante-Middle East regional coordinator.

Monterona said Migrante chapters around the world have been actively campaigning for the removal of the BIR documentary stamp tax on OFWs remittances as this would equate a direct tax imposed by the government to OFWs channeled through remittance service centers.

“This is contrary to the government’s declared policy that OFWs should not be subjected to numerous tax impositions in recognition of their valuable contribution to the economy,” Monterona added.

The OFW leader noted there are several bills filed in Congress in both chamber aimed for the removal of the BIR’s documentary stamp tax on OFWs remittances. “But until now it were not acted upon by our members of the Senate and House of Representatives, and these will not be tackled until after the elections,” Monterona continued.

“But since, the BIR is under the direct supervision and administrative guidance of the Department of Finance under the Executive branch, Mrs. Arroyo could order the implementing agency to stop charging the documentary stamp tax to OFWs remittances especially this hardest time that many OFWs families and dependents have been devastated by typhoon “Ondoy” in Metro Manila and nearby provinces,” Monterona added.

Migrante closely estimated an almost 15-M OFWs families and dependents living in Metro Manila and about 10-M from Southern Tagalog region and nearby provinces like Rizal, Bulacan, Cavite and Pampanga that were also affected by the typhoon.

Meanwhile, Migrante-ME announces that its chapters in the Middle East are still accepting donations preferably in cash amid the recent directives issued by the Arroyo government that all goods coming from abroad will be under tight watch by the Bureau of Customs especially if its not directed to the Department of Social Worker and Development (DSWD).

“Our Migrante relief coordinating teams have apprehensions that the numerous boxes of goods that it gathered from kindhearted fellow OFWs donors would not reach to typhoon victims-beneficiaries because of the recent directive issued by Mrs. Arroyo fearing that it will be held at Philippine ports by the BoC and would hamper the distribution of these goods,” Monterona averred.

“That’s is why to those who would like to donate for typhoon victims, we are urging them to instead donate cash rather than goods amid this directive issued by the Arroyo government; we will reach you out there to get your cash donations even if it is only 1 riyal; kindly get in touch with our coordinating teams and point persons,” Monterona added.

Migrante-Middle East chapters have already collected almost 2.4 tons of goods, the bulk of which came from OFWs from the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia; some of the boxes of goods have already been forwarded to cargo Forwarders for delivery at Migrante International office in Quezon City for distribution to affected OFWs communities; while cash donations and pledges are estimated to reach 2,600 Riyals.

“We would like to thank our fellow OFWs, the Filipino Communities and different Filipino Organizations who joined us to these noble efforts of sending us your donations to typhoon victims. Sama-sama pa rin tayo sa pagtulong!” Monterona ended. # # #

Reference:
John Leonard Monterona
Migrante Middle East regional coordinator
Migrante Sectoral Party Vice Chairperson
Mobile No.: 00966 564 97 8012

Arroyo regulating donations from abroad

2009-10-03T13:26:00.001+03:00

Press Release
2 October 2009

OFW group hits Arroyo’s directive on regulating donations from abroad;
seen to hamper entry of goods, cash badly needed by typhoon victims

Migrante-Middle East, the largest alliance of overseas Filipino workers’ organizations in the Middle East actively involve in seeking donations among the Filipino Communities and OFWs organizations today said the latest Arroyo directive regulating donations from abroad is uncalled for and will only hamper the coming in of goods badly needed by typhoon victims.

“Mrs. Arroyo’s latest directive regulating the coming in of donations from abroad is an act of pure selfishness and mediocrity disallowing cause-oriented groups and non-government organizations’ collected donations to come in for the benefits of thousands typhoon victims,” said John Leonard Monterona, Migrante-Middle East regional coordinator.

On her issued directed on 29th September, Mrs. Arroyo said “Ikatlo, hindi sisingilan ng buwis o kukumpiskahan ng Bureau of Customs ang mga donasyon ng pagkain at kagamitan mula sa ibang bayan, basta't ito ay naka-assign sa DSWD.”

As she said, her government will never impose taxes and will not confiscate if donations will be directed to the Department of Social Welfare and Development.

“So it means if donations are not directed to DSWD, the Bureau of Customs will confiscate these boxes of goods reaching Philippine ports. This is ridiculous!” Monterona exclaimed.

Monterona added such directive is unreasonable too. He said many of the donations from Filipino Communities and Filipino organizations have decided to entrust their donations to Migrante, people’s organizations and other cause-oriented groups, and not to the RP posts because they are not trusting the Arroyo government that has numerous allegations of corruptions, government fund misuses and diversion including the 800-M Emergency fund which was allegedly used during her lavish foreign trips.

Item no.5 on her said directive asking remittance Service centers not to charge transaction fees to all cash donations so long as it is directed to DSWD shows Mrs. Arroyo’s power-tripping skills that curtail freedom of its people to willingly donate on their own respective way and capability for typhoon victims.

“Donations in the form of cash and goods should be tax-free and should not be put under strict regulations and confiscation especially if it comes from the Filipino Communities and Filipino organizations abroad. Why Mrs. Arroyo is imposing strict regulations that will only hamper coming in of donations (cash and goods) from abroad which typhoon victims badly needed?” Monterona added.

Monterona said the Filipino communities and other Filipino organizations conveyed to him their fears and apprehension that their donations (clothes, canned goods and cash) may not reach to typhoon victims because of Mrs. Arroyo’s issued directives indirectly instructing the Bureau of Customs to confiscate goods from abroad if it is not for DSWD.

“We are urging all kindhearted OFWs, the Filipino Communities and Filipino organizations and our donors abroad to join us petition the Arroyo government that imposes strict regulations such as confiscation and imposing remittance tax to our donations if it is not directed to DSWD. This is but an arrogant exercise of power curtailing our freedom and desire to help our fellow kababayans, victims of typhoon blamed anyway for this very government’s unpreparedness to protect its people from calamity,” Monterona said.

“This is indeed a disaster worsened by the Arroyo government itself!” Monterona ended. # # #

Reference:
John Leonard Monterona
Migrante Middle East regional coordinator
Migrante Sectoral Party Vice Chairperson
Mobile No.: 00966 564 97 8012

Operation SAGIP Migrante Updates

2009-09-30T10:47:00.003+03:00

Operation SAGIP Migrante

No. 10 Banuyo St. Project 3, Quezon City
Tel. No.: +63-927-274-6876

Updates
29 September 2009

Dear all,

We have decided to give you quick brief updates so you can also monitor the ongoing relief operations.

Today, September 29, we provided a community kitchen (a la soup) kitchen to 600 individuals in Brgy. Holy Spirit where 93 of our members were affected. We also distributed 165 bags of goods containing rice, canned goods and bottled water.

On Thursday, October 1, we will be going to conduct our relief operations in Munoz, Quezon City where the creek washed out an estimated over a hundred houses. This is where a staff of the MSP-- Mak Ramirez lives. His house was also washed out.

On the same day, we will also be joining a MAKABAYAN team, which is composed of all progressive partylists (Bayan Muna, Gabriela, AnakPawis, Kabataan Partylist, Migrante Sectoral Party, ACT Teachers, COURAGE, Katribu), to conduct clean-up operations in Makati. As you are probably aware (from media), the floods left the whole city deep in mud. Many of our organized communities, especially from AnakPawis and Kadamay are here.

On October 5, another MAKABAYAN team will also be conducting a medical mission.

We are trying to come up with a systematic plans of relief operations which do not duplicate what government and other NGOs, church institutions etc... are doing. We are targeting those areas which are not being shown on TV- those areas which seem to have been forgotten and still haven't reached by assistance. We will be coordinating with other organizations like Kadamay whose communities were also badly hit. We are all trying to double all our efforts and come up with a quick response team as, according to the weather bureau, another storm, will hit the Philippines tonight or tomorrow..

To date, the support has started coming-- locally and internationally. As mentioned earlier, our chapter in Taiwan has already sent some support. Migrante Melbourne has just informed us that they already sent initial support. Our chapters in the Middle East, Hongkong, New Zealand, Canada and Europe have already started their solicitation campaigns.

We are also starting a hotline for all your relatives who you need to contact or check. We are still waiting for the contact numbers.

Rest assured that we will be giving you prompt and brief updates and a complete accounting of all your support, including photo documentation.

Para lang makaabot sa inyo ang taos-pusong pasasalamat ng mga natulungan ninyo, ang sabi nga ng isang taga-Holy Spirit kanina --- "tunay na bayani nga ang ating mga ofws-- kahit sila ay puno ng problema, nakakatulong pa din sila sa kanilang mga kababayan, nagpapamalas ng tunay na pagmamalasakit sa bayan."

Sulong!

Namamalagi, in behalf of the Executive Committee,

Rina
Migrante International

Notes: MAKABAYAN is the coalition of Bayan Muna Party and all other progressive Partylists including Gabriela Womens Party (GWP), AnakPawis, Kabataan Partylist, Migrante Sectoral Party, ACT Teachers, COURAGE (government employees) and Katribu (indigenous peoples).

On OWWA's Special Calamity Loan

2009-09-30T10:45:00.001+03:00

Press Release
30 September 2009

OFW group to OWWA:
Let ex-OFWs avail special calamity loan in recognition of their valuable contribution

The Middle-East based alliance of overseas Filipino workers’ organizations today said the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) should consider ex-OFWs to avail OWWA’s special calamity loan in recognition of their valuable contribution in the economy that has been remittance-dependent for the past few years.

“The government, through its supposed premier welfare agency –the OWWA, must consider Ex-OFWs to avail the Php.10,000 special calamity loan especially those who have been devastated by typhoon “Ondoy” in recognition of their valuable contribution to the country,” said John Leonard Monterona, Migrante-Middle East regional coordinator.

Monterona said in fact they are the ones that need help and assistance as most of them have no stable jobs at all and have only meager income after their retirement as migrant workers.

“Many ex-OFWs are on their retirement age, and if they were victims and were devastated by the typhoon, then it is but reasonable that they too should avail OWWA’s special calamity loan,” Monterona added.

Monterona explained that if special calamity loan will be sourced out from the OWWA trust fund, a compulsory collection of US$25 per departing OFWs, then ex-OFWs have all the rights to avail the special calamity loan where ex-OFWs previously paid membership fee and became OWWA members for many years. “These should be considered by OWWA allowing ex-OFWs to avail OWWA’s special calamity fund,” the OFW leader added.

Monterona express apprehension that the special calamity loan which source will come from the 12-B OWWA trust fund may not go to real beneficiaries.

“On previous similar programs, OWWA failed to secure the funds,” he added.

“Such is the case of the P260-M bogus claims exposed by then OWWA Administrator Virgilio Angelo himself only to justify OWWA Medicare fund transfer to Philippine Health Insurance Corporation or Philhealth,” Monterona claimed.

“We demand from OWWA full transparency and accountability on the disbursement of the funds to be used for the special calamity loan to ensure that the OFWs money held in trust to OWWA will go to rightful beneficiaries,” Monterona added.

Monterona is also urging the Commission on Audit (COA) to check and monitor the fund disbursement for OWWA’s special calamity loan to ensure that the OFWs’ money will not be misused. # # #

Reference:
John Leonard Monterona
Migrante Middle East regional coordinator
Migrante Sectoral Party Vice Chairperson
Mobile No.: 00966 564 97 8012

Support, donations from OFWs pour

2009-09-29T12:38:00.001+03:00

Press Release
29 September 2009

Support, donations from OFWs pour like “Ondoy” rains
OFW group leading relief drive thankful, give assurance that donations are in good hands and will be sent to typhoon victims

Migrante-Middle East, the largest alliance of overseas Filipino workers’ organizations in the Middle East that first initiated a relief drive for typhoon “Ondoy” victims in the Philippines leading the Filipino Communities and Filipino Organizations in Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates and other middle eastern countries today said support and donations from OFWs pour like “Ondoy” rains.

“Barely two (2) days when our Migrante chapters in Saudi Arabia and in the Middle East initiated the releif drive to gather donations for typhoon victims in Manila and nearby provinces, we have already received several boxes of clothes, goods and cash pledges from fellow OFWs, their organizations and friends in almost areas where there are OFWs concentration especially in Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Qatar, and in Kuwait,” said John Leonard Monterona, Migrante-Middle East regional coordinator.

Monterona said reports from different Migrante chapters that formed coordinating teams to gather and accept reliefs stated that they have been receiving calls and querries from fellow OFWs where to get in touch with them as they have gathered donations, mostly clothes and goods, for typhoon victims.

Monterona said last night Migrante-Al Khobar had initiated a meeting among Filipino organizations to discuss their collaborative efforts and initiatives to gather support and donations from fellow OFWs for the typhoon victims.

Bob Fajarito, Chairperson of Migrante-Jeddah chapter, said he received numerous calls since yesterday from fellow OFWs asking where they could deliver their donations, and upon instruction of the location of Migrante-Jeddah head quarters, boxes of goods and clothes were delivered to Migrante-Jeddah HQ.

“Some have brought halala (saudi riyals coins), in which our Migrante officers have taught that they should have make coin bank for those individual OFW willing to donate 1 riyal for this noble cause,” Monterona added.

Monterona said same overwhelming response from OFWs in Riyadh and Al Khobar in Saudi Arabia, in Doha, Qatar, and Abu Dhabi, Dubai and in other Emirates of UAE.

In Jeddah, several OFWs working in different establishments and government offices have given their donations such as OFWs working at King Fahad Arm Forces Hospital, King Khaled National Guard Hospital, Saudi German Hospital, International Medical Center and several Philippine Schools who have convey their pledges to Migrante relief coordinating teams in Jeddah.

In Riyadh, KGS-Migrante Chairperson Eric Jocson reported that there are now 7 boxes of goods and clothes at KGS HQ; and OFWs working at Semiesi Hospital, King Saud Medical Center, Saudi Security Forces, and Prince Sultan Hospital have conveyed their pledges as well.

While in United Arab Emirates, Migrante-UAE Secretary-General Nhel Morona has been receiving pledges from OFWs organizations and individuals who are willing to give their donations.

“I have been receiving pledges and querries where to send their donations from fellow OFWs in Qatar and Kuwait in which I forwarded to the attention of our Migrante-Qatar and Kuwait chapters,” Monterona added.

Monterona said though Migrante relief coordinating teams are having a problem in sending these goods and clothes in the Philippines, they are now in contact with Cargo forwarders in their respective areas so that the boxes of goods and clothes they have gathered will be sent home with utmost priority and as soon as possible.

“We are thankful to our fellow OFWs without any hesitation responded to our call “Sagip migrante at pamilya, sama-sama sa pagtulong para sa mga sinalanta ng bagyo”; we assure them that the donations (cash, goods, clothes, and other things) they have entrusted to us will reach to beneficiaries -typhoon victims in Metro Manila and nearby provinces as relief efforts by Migrante in Manila has started yesterday in some OFWs communities,” Monterona added.

Monterona said he has already informed Migrante relief coordinating teams to properly document, issue acknowledgement receipt, remittance receipt, and take photos of all donations it received and in due time will publicly announce all donations received in the name of transparency.

“To those who are questioning our noble intention as we are branded by the Arroyo government as “leftist”, all we could say is “Sama-sama na lang tayo sa pagtulong”,” Monterona averred.

Monterona opined the Filipino communties and OFWs organizations in the Middle East have made the right choice of entrusting their donations to Migrante and other People’s organizations that are providing genuine service unlike the Arroyo government that is only good in posturing but actually giving lip service and has been criminally negligent to its people by allegedly diverting the 800-M Emergency fund that is intended to emegrecy situation but was used for her lavish foreign trips.

“Could we blame the people, our fellow OFWs if they could not anymore entrust their donations to the perceived corrupt Arroyo government?” Monterona ended. # # #

Reference:
John Leonard Monterona
Migrante Middle East regional coordinator
Migrante Sectoral Party Vice Chairperson
Mobile No.: 00966 564 97 8012

Relief drive in KSA for Typhoon victims

2009-09-27T01:16:00.000+03:00

Press Release
27 September 2009

Largest OFW group urges Filipino Communities, OFW organizations to donate for Typhoon “Ondoy” victims

Migrante-Middle East, the largest alliance of overseas Filipino workers’ organizations in the Middle East today urges the Filipino community and other OFW organizations in the Middle East to mobilize their members and officers to start collecting donations, relief goods and clothings from compatriots abroad for the victims of typhon “Ondoy” that caused floods in Metro Manila and nearby provinces victimizing thousands of families.

“We will mobilize our Migrante chapters and member-organizations into a coordinating bodies in their respective countries that will spearhead gathering of donations, goods, and clothes for the relief operations of our allied non-government organizations in Metro Manila,” said John Leonard Monterona, Migrante-ME regional coordinator and Migrante Sectoral Party Vice Chairperson.

Monterona said Migrante chapters will coordinate this effort with different Filipino Communities and Filipino organizations in the Middle East and will ask assistance from RP officials abroad so that they could gather as many as possible goods, clothes and donations.

Monterona said the Filipino Community and other OFWs organizations may contact the below listed Migrante officers in Saudi Arabia for their donations, clothings, and canned goods:

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia: KGS-Migrante Chairperson Eric Jocson Mobile No. 0531822766
KGS-Migrante Sec.Gen Mike Garlan Mobile No. 0505629 89930

Al Khobar, Saudi Arabia: Migrante-Khobar Chairperson Choie De Leon, 0569117563
Migrante-Khobar Sec.Gen Gerry De Guzman, 0507373906

Jeddah, Saudi Arabia: Migrante-Jeddah Chairperson Bob Fajarito, 050502745340

For other countries in the Middle East, our Filipino compatriots abroad may call John Leonard Monterona at mobile no. 00966 564978012 or email at migranteme@gmail.com, so that they can be refered to Migrante coordinators/officers who will be ready to receive their donations.

“Wala namang ibang magtutulungan kundi tayong mga magkababayan kahit milya-milya man ang layo natin sa ating Bayang sinilangan,” Monterona ended. # # #

Reference:
John Leonard Monterona
Migrante Middle East regional coordinator
Migrante Sectoral Party Vice Chairperson
Mobile No.: 00966 564 97 8012

Stranded OFWs appeal

2009-09-23T13:18:00.001+03:00

22 September 2009

Stranded OFWs in Saudi deportation center appeal for food, medicines, and immediate repatriation;
OFW group presses visiting Gloria to bring them all home

An alliance of overseas Filipino workers organizations in the Middle East today said the remaining more than a 100 OFWs inside the Hajj Airport deportation center in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia is loosing hope as their appeal for supply of food, medicines, and their immediate repatraition just fall short to the deaf ears of visiting Mrs. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.

“The 31 stranded OFWs at cell no.1 of the Hajj Airport deportation center keep on calling and sending us short messages praying that they will be attended and be given regular supply of food, medicines, and be repatraited home especailly when they have heared the news that Mrs. Arroyo arrived in Jeddah yesterday,” John Leonard Monterona, Migrante-ME regional coordinator.

Monterona said he regularly received an SMS from certain Ryan who have manifested from his one SMS sent to him saying “nagsurender kami pra maka-uwi sa Pinas, bakit kami ikukulong ng matagal? Hindi kmi pumatay o nagnakaw? Yan ang tanong namin? Hindi kami nag-murder na ikukulong. (We surendered so that we be sent back in the Philippines, why we are being held for so long? We never killed or stolen? That’s our question? We never murdered someone to be put in jail.)

“Yesterday, another stranded OFW who introduced himself as Roland manifested that they need foods, medicines, and appeal that they be repatriated soonest. He and his fellow stranded in cell no.1 manifested that they never received any assitance from the Philippine Consulate General office in Jeddah,” Monterona added.

Monterona said one of the objectives of Mrs. Arroyo’s visit to Saudi is to work for the “protection of OFWs” in Saudi Arabia, but she never mentioned it during her speech in front of a “hakot” crowd giving her applause everytime she mentioned her “accomplishments” for OFWs and their families.

“Their is nothing new to what she has been said during her supposed meeting with the Filipino Community in MoveNPick Hotel in Al Khobar the other day. There is no dialogue held and practically she evades to answer legitimate demands and concerns of our fellow OFWs,” Monterona added.

Monterona said he and other Migrante officers attempted to attend on the scheduled meeting of Mrs. Arroyo with the Filipino Community, but they were stop to enter at the entrance of the Hotel’s function roon where she delivered her well rehearsed, uninteresting, non-sense speech because according to an Embassy official they were not invited despite recognition from the Embassy itself that Migrante is a legitimate OFW organization in Saudi Arabia.

“Even the issue of stopping the “Embassy on Wheels” program allegedly due to lack of funds is just pure poor gimmick where Mrs. Arroyo mentioned on her speech that it will continue anyway because she will put additional funds for its continued operation but in fact the “Embassy on Wheels” program’s budget is already included in the yearly budget of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA),” Monterona averred.

Monterona further said that Mrs. Arroyo is also trying to impress the Saudi government so that it could ask funds for her “peace initiative” in Mindanao.

“But with the continued militarization in Mindanao, even during Eid El Ftir, that is causing havoc to the lives of our Muslim brothers and sisters, we doubt if she could get the support or funds for her bogus peace initiative in Mindanao; after all Mrs. Arroyo is not interested in establishing a peaceful country as her militarist-minded government peace negotiators are sabotaging to derail the peace negotions with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front and with the CPP-NPA-NDF,” Monterona opined.

Monterona said Muslim OFWs in Saudi Arabia could not accept and are dismayed on Arroyo government’s continued and intense militarization in Mindanao where OFWs families are greatly affected, homes and jobs devastated, and could not live a normal life, thus forcing them to accept jobs abroad.

“In fact, there are Muslim brothers and sisters inside the Jedahh deportation center now wishing to be back home only to be re-united with their displaced loved ones due to continued militarization in their own land,” Monterona added.

“We reiterate our demands to the Arroyo government to provide regular supply of food, medicines, and work for the immediate repatration of the remaining stranded OFWs in Saudi Arabia, especially those in jail and the 26 OFWs in death row,” Monterona added.

Monterona ended saying “Mrs. Arroyo is cleverly grabbing the credit of repatriating the 120 stranded OFWs from the Saudi government which is actually has a yearly program of sending thousands stranded migrants workers including OFWs to be back home as part of the Saudi government goodwill gesture right after the Holy Month of Ramadan.”
* * *

Reference:
John Leonard Monterona
Migrante Middle East regional coordinator
Mobile No.: 00966 564 97 8012

Beware: Malicious individuals misrepresenting Migrante

2009-09-23T12:58:00.002+03:00

Press Release
23 September 2009

Malicious individuals using, misrepresenting Migrante
Fellow OFWs alerted to contact legit members and officers only

An alliance of overseas Filipino workers’ organizations in the Middle East today said it received several reports from its different chapters in the Middle East specifically from Migrante chapter in Al Khobar that there are individuals maliciously using Migrante’s name and are rendering “counselling” only to put distress OFWs into a more troubled situation.

“We would like to alert our fellow OFWs especially those in distress to be careful dealing with individuals misrepresenting Migrante claiming that they are members and officers but only to find out that they are not officers/members, and are giving wrong advises and are asking for money in exchange of the “counselling” services they have rendered to distress OFWs seeking assistance,” said John Leonard Monterona, Migrante-Middle East regional coordinator.

Monterona said these malicious and unscrupolous individuals pretending to be Migrante members or officials are desperate enough to destroy the name and credibility of Migrante as the most active OFWs group providing assistance to distress, run away, and stranded OFWs in the Middle East.

“We will not allow that Migrante’s name, proven and untarnished records of serving fellow OFWS could be used and tainted by these wicked individuals just to advance its own narrow selfish interests by duping distress OFWs and who are collecting money from OFW victims of abuses and maltreatment,” Monterona added.

Monterona said such was the case of OFW Peter (not his real name), who requested anonymity, that he approached to a person who introduced himself as Migrante official in Al Khobar.

OFW Peter, a family driver, said he was scolded by her lady employer because it has been calling him on his cell phone for several minutes but he failed to respond and took sometime to notice that her lady employer is waiting for quite sometime at a mall where he dropped it. Due to this incident, OFW Peter was nearly slapped by the angry husband of her lady employer and was told that he’ll be fired from his job.

Monterona said the incident prompted OFW Peter to look for someone who could give him advise and guide him on what to do, until somebody told him that he knew a Migrante official where he could ask for assistance and advise.

“These malicious individuals using Migrante’s name advised OFW Peter to run away from his employer and that they will provide him a temporary shelter only if he will give them 1,500 Saudi riyals,” Monterona added.

Doubting the intentions of these malicious individuals who introduced themselves as Migrante officials, OFW Peter called the Philippine Overseas Labor Office in Al Khobar and state his case; and that someone on Migrante is helping him but asking an amount.

POLO official asked OFW Peter the name of these “people from Migrante” but found out that he is not the one Migrante has officially appointed to attend welfare cases.

“Migrante chapters in the Middle East have designated officials to attend welfare cases and that all rights and welfare cases must come through them before offcially endorsing it to the attention of the concerned RP posts/officials for its action,” Monterona averred.

Monterona said distress OFWs are advise to get in touch only to Migrante officers who have their official Identification Card issued by the respective Chairpersons of different Migrante local chapters in Saudi Arabia and in the Middle East.

Monterona said ditress and run away OFWs could directly call him on his hotline mobile number 056 497 8012, which is open 24/7 so that he could refered their case to the attention and action of Migrante welfare case officers and guide them what to do and endorse their case to RP posts concerned.

Reference:
John Leonard Monterona
Migrante Middle East regional coordinator
Mobile No.: 00966 564 97 8012

Genuine service for OFWs now!

2009-09-23T12:49:00.004+03:00

23 September 2009
For IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Arroyo’s arrival from KSA met with protest from Migrants sector
Stop using OFWs for media gimmick! Genuine service for OFWs now!

This was the battle cry of Filipino workers and their families in a press conference held in time for President Arroyo’s arrival from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

“For sure, Arroyo will be arriving in style using the 120 OFWs as her unwilling accessories to bolster success in her 3-nation swing. We do not blame the OFWs for jumping in to her junket, they just want to be home and get away from the nightmare that the Philippine government has given them,” said Garry Martinez, chairperson of Migrante International.

Martinez said that “if she truly wants to rescue our kababayans, she could have instructed the Philippine Embassy to repatriate them way earlier, did not leave a hundred more languishing at the deportation center in Hajj Airport, and sent a chartered flight to save more than 200 OFWs stranded in Maldives. And if she really was concerned with their welfare, she should have intervened in the numerous cases of contract violation, abuse and death sentence against Filipinos abroad.”

Migrante gave the information that the stranded Filipinos in Jeddah and the islands of Maldives are not receiving any help from assigned Philippine consulates and embassies. They also cited OFWs reports of not seeing “even a shadow” of a representative from Philippine authorities.

Martinez also said that “instead of delivering grandstanding statements on welfare protection, she could have done concrete actions like scrapping the Unified Contract scheme that absolves abusive employers and criminalizes OFW runaways. She could have also punished embassy officials that drive away Filipinos to go back to their cruel employers.”

According to the group, the Unified Contract was proposed by the Saudi National Recruitment Committee to impose provisions in the contract of OFWs working in the Kingdom which were detrimental to the interest of OFWs especially domestic helpers. The said proposal was signed by then DOLE Secretary Pat Sto Tomas in 2002 despite criticisms.

Filipino deportees left behind in Jeddah

Last September 18, Abdul Jalil Sinal, a Filipino at the deportation center in Jeddah called Migrante and accounted that they are 88, 37 men and 51 women. One has already died, 6 have LBM and 5 have difficulties in breathing. He also reported that 30 people are being cramped in 8x8 meter cells and food and water is hardly available.

Sinal also reported on the next day that Godspray Espinas was brought to the hospital. Mila Espinas, his mother, informed Migrante that his son has a weak heart and undergoes medication.

Migrante confirmed that according to the accounts of the OFWs, the Philippine Embassy has not sent any individual to give them support.

“Wala ka talagang maasahan sa embassy. Sa totoo lang mas gugustuhin pa ng mga Pinoy na magpahuli sa police kaysa lumapit sa ating embahada. Imposibleng hindi nila alam ang kalagayan ng mga kababayan natin sa deportation center,” said Anwar Sinal, brother of Abdul and also worked in Saudi Arabia last year until February 2009.

Still no help for OFWs in Maldives

“Contrary to what OWWA announced in September 10, help is still nowhere to be found. Two weeks has already passed since we have informed the DFA, POEA and OWWA about the plight of the OFWs in Maldives. Nasaan na ang ipinagmamayabang ni Carmelita Dimzon na kaya nilang mapauwi ang ating mga kababayan sa loob ng 48 oras,” exclaimed Martinez.

Martinez added that they have informed the DFA and Philippine Embassy in Bangladesh that the workers were being forced to sign resignation papers before they process exit clearances and air tickets, and yet they did not do anything to intervene to fast track the repatriation.

More than 200 Filipinos working for the rehabilitation of Tsunami stricken Maldives islands complained of unpaid 5-month salaries and inadequate food and water.

Armando del Mundo, one of the workers, phoned Migrante and said that “dahil mukhang wala na talagang darating na tulong, makikipagsapalaran na kami sa Male kahit walang tiyak na matutuluyan, kaysa naman mamatay kami sa gutom at sakit dito.”

They have decided to use their last few money to rent small boats and proceed to the capital of Maldives which is 36 hours away by boat from their present location. The Filipinos are situated in three remote islands – Villingili, Dhandhoo and Maamendhoo.###

Reference:
Garry Martinez, Chairperson, 09217229740
Ailyn Abdula, Media Officer, 09212708994

IMA Statement vs G20 Summit

2009-09-23T00:01:00.000+03:00

Press Statement
September 20, 2009

G20 Summit: Putting Profits and Monopolists Above the People
Jobs in our Homeland!
Livelihoods for Social and Democratic Justice!
Statement of the International Migrants Alliance on the G20 Meeting

If the G20) will have their way, there is no hope that the people can cope with the current depression gripping the world. Worse, there can never be a future where social justice prospers and where the dignity of all workers – including (especially) migrant workers – is upheld. Saving the neoliberal globalization still is the major agenda of member countries of the powerful G20. The group is a champion of the very same policy that has put the world in the worst financial crunch in recent history.

People around the world are reeling from the impacts of the financial crisis that stemmed from the crisis of overproduction inherent in the monopoly-ruled global economy. Though the G-20 projects its meeting in the United States as one that will find ways to get the world out of the economic rut it is now in, it is without doubt that the priority of the G-20 will be on how to save the big monopolists and banks that have been the ones cornering profit and production at the expense of human lives. Meanwhile, the people of the world are left with a worsening social, economic and political condition.

Millions of people have lost their jobs or have been made insecure and temporary in their employment. Agriculture, a pillar for our livelihood and right to food, has also suffered with the worst impact to landless peasants already living under severe feudal and semi-feudal exploitation. The number of people going hungry has reached over one billion. Even so-called middle class is rapidly finding it hard to cope with the rising prices of goods. Access to education, health and public services has become even narrower than before with compelled privatization of these services. States continually slash budgets for services while giving unprecedented leeway and perk to businesses especially the monopoly-capitalists.

The people’s discontent is on the rise. To curb any form of dissent, policies have been enacted that curtail the civil and political rights of the people such as the right to protest and assemble, the right to unionize and even the right to free expression. Migrant workers around the world are some of the first to feel the brunt of the global crisis. Even before the crisis, migrants have already been made vulnerable to exploitation by the various laws set by host countries to limit their rights. Now with the crisis, hundreds of thousands are laid off from their jobs and summarily deported back to their home countries. After years of benefiting from migrant labor, businesses and labor-importing states now have no hesitation in letting go of migrant laborers,

Undocumented migrants are also hard hit by the economic slump. Border control of host countries are made even tighter and thousands of undocumented are regularly rounded up and are arrested, detained and eventually deported. They are treated as no more than criminals despite the fact their economies have benefited much from their cheap labor. The EU Return Directive is exemplary of the draconian methods used by states to violate the basic social and democratic rights of migrants.

The million-strong protest action of immigrants and undocumented workers in US in 2006 showcased the dire condition of undocumented migrants that is expected to get even worse in the near future. Xenophobia and racism is also fanned to shift public opinion in favor of mass termination of migrant workers and the crafting of labor policies that are detrimental to the rights of migrants. As what happens every time economic crisis sets in, migrant workers are made scapegoats for the rising unemployment among local workers that causes a divide among the working class – migrants and locals – in many countries.

In labor-exporting countries, migration has become the main industry that sustains their economies. Migrant remittances and income from government charges have been the steady sources of dollars and funds for these countries. On top of the economic gains, labor export has also helped in stopping the social volcano that is always on the brink of exploding in crisis-ridden countries that export workers.

Currently, even migration is being integrated in the framework of neoliberal globalization. Through the Global Forum on Migration and Development (GFMD) that is in the grip of powerful countries – considering that it is a product of the OECD – migrant workers are transformed into commodities and migration is moulded to produce the biggest profits for host countries, sending countries and monopoly-capitalist banks.

Remittance is the main concern of the GFMD. The billions of dollars that migrant workers remit is an irresistible well of funds sorely needed by monopolists in their relentless drive for capital accumulation. Though the GFMD coats itself with motherhood statements on the rights of migrants, its major concern is still unmasked by its very own aim of “making migration work for development” – it is using remittances and other income from migration for the kind of development that is actually not for the grassroots.

IMA stands with the migrants and all the toiling people of the world in further exposing and opposing neoliberal globalization and those that push for it like the G20. We call for jobs in our homeland, we call for equality and livelihoods for social justice for the oppressed and exploited. Such will not be had with the G20. Such can only be achieved through struggle and people’s international solidarity.

Reference:
Teresa Gutierrez, IMA Deputy Secretary General
May 1st Coalition Co-Coordinator
Contact Number:

* * *

Founded in June 2008, the International Migrants Alliance is an international alliance of 112 grassroots migrant organizations and institutions working for migrant workers.

Migrante slams Arroyo’s ‘heartless media gimmick’

2009-09-22T18:59:00.001+03:00

22 September 2009
PRESS RELEASE:

Migrante slams Arroyo’s ‘heartless media gimmick’

Oops she did it gain!

A global alliance of Filipino migrants and their families has slammed President Gloria Arroyo for again using distressed overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) as propaganda tool to shore up her image.

Migrante on Monday assailed Arroyo for deliberately delaying the repatriation of 120 stranded OFWs in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia so that she can use them as “photo-ops” when she arrives in the country Wednesday. Speaking over the radio this morning, Palace spokesperson Cerge Remonde announced that Arroyo will personally bring home the stranded OFWs staying at the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) Center in the Kingdom.

But Migrante reported that during a dialogue with OWWA Administrator Carmelita Dimzon more than a month ago regarding the issue of stranded OFWs in Saudi Arabia, Dimzon confidently assured the group that the OWWA can repatriate the OFWs in two days. The dialogue was facilitated by Senator Loren Legarda.

“The two days have long been over and yet no repatriation has happened. And now this. We believe there could be no other reason for the delay but to indulge Arroyo’s proven penchant for photo-ops. She plans to parade these poor OFWs before the media when she arrives on Wednesday in a desperate bid to justify her extravagant junkets overseas,” said Garry Martinez, chairperson of Migrante International.

Over the weekend, Migrante dared OWWA to bring home all 300 stranded OFWs even before Arroyo lands in the Kingdom if only to disprove suspicions that the government is deliberately putting off the stranded OFWs’ repatriation in time for Arroyo’s arrival.

“Stranded OFWs have fallen sick and some have already died in overcrowded and stomach-turning deportations centers in the Kingdom. Her audacity to delay their repatriation for a photo-op speaks volumes on how this administration treats our OFWs.”

“On Wednesday, the nation will again stand witness to yet another one of Arroyo’s heartless media gimmicks at the expense of our poor OFWs,” Martinez concluded.###

Reference:
Garry Martinez, Chairperson, 09217229740
Ailyn Abdula, Media Officer, 09212708994

OFW group joins 2010 Partylist race

2009-09-19T19:03:00.000+03:00

September 18, 2009
PRESS RELEASE

OFW group joins 2010 Partylist race

“For a long time, others have been speaking in our behalf…It is now time to speak for ourselves.”

This was the battle cry of Migrante Partylist members who marched to the Comelec building at Intramuros, Manila upon announcing their intention to run in the 2010 Party-list election.

“Patutunayan namin na ang mga OFWs ay hindi lang Bayani sa ekonomya, kami rin ay Bayani sa Pulitika,” (We will prove that we are not only heroes in our economy, we are also heroes in politics) says Garry Martinez, chairperson of Migrante International.

Martinez explained that they decided to join the coming election due to existing policies and laws that are detrimental to the interest of migrant Filipinos and in order for OFWs to be represented by their own partylist.

“Under the term of President Arroyo, policies were geared towards intensifying labor exportation instead of focusing on welfare protection. It is high time that the sector, who has been saving this economy towards total bankruptcy be represented by its own leaders,” Martinez added.

Since the party-list system began in the 1998 election, various OFW groups have failed to win a seat in congress. Overseas workers are one of the marginalized sector cited in RA 7941 or the Party-list System Law that was enacted in 1995.

When asked of its chances, Martinez replied that “we will not solely depend on the Overseas Absentee Voters since the recent figure might not suffice to garner the needed number of votes to win a seat in congress.”

“We will ask our chapters in 23 countries across the globe that they need to campaign among their relatives and friends who are here inside the country. And since OFWs are mostly the breadwinners in the family, we believe that their loved ones will not only support us but would likewise campaign for us in their respective barrios in different provinces,” explained Martinez.

The group is also banking on the support of OFW victims that they have assisted since their formation in 1996. More than a thousand distressed OFWs seek Migrante’s helps annually, Martinez said.

Martinez said, once elected, Migrante’s ascension to the halls of the legislature, will signify a momentous victory not only for the sector they wish to represent, but also to the Filipino people as a whole.

“Migrante commits to work for the passage of laws and measures that will safeguard the interests and well being of millions of OFWs and their families; to fight, in every turn, the government’s parasitic mindset of treating Filipinos as mere commodities for export abroad and to struggle hard to achieve a society where families are no longer torn apart because of the urgent need to survive,” Martinez said.

“Sa mahabang panahon, marami na ang nagsalita para sa amin, panahon na ngayon na aming iparinig ang aming nagkakaisang tinig!” (For a long time, others have been speaking in our behalf…It is now time to speak for ourselves), he concluded. ###

Reference:
Garry Martinez, chairperson
Mobile: 09217229740

Amending Migrant Workers Act will intensify labor export

2009-09-14T13:44:00.001+03:00

Press Release
09 September 2009

Proposed consolidated bill amending Migrant Workers Act of 1995 will only further intensify labor exportation –Migrante-ME

Migrante-Middle East, the largest alliance of overseas Filipino workers’ organizations in the Middle East, today said the proposed consolidation of bills now in Congress amending Republic Act 8042 otherwise known as The Migrant Workers and Overseas Filipinos Act of 1995 will only further intensify cheap labor exportation at the disguise of giving the law strong teeth in providing protection to OFWs abroad.

“Consolidated Senate Bill 3286 and House Bill 5649 is an attempt to accommodate different legislative ideas originated in the Lower with parallel bill in the Senate whose proponents have their own way of intent changing the anti-OFW character of R.A. 8042 but in reality it only promotes exportation of cheap human labor and institutionalizes exactions of government-imposed fees, and charges by recruitment agencies to OFWs and their families,” said John Leonard Monterona, Migrante-ME regional coordinator.

Monterona said since its passage on June 7, 1995, the Migrant Workers and Overseas Filipinos Act of 1995 (R.A. 8042) was primarily utilized to intensify the labor export program of the government rather than to “establish a higher standard of protection and promotion of the welfare of migrant workers, their families and overseas Filipinos in distress” as stipulated in the said law.

Monterona added contrary to the obligations and responsibilities of the government set out in R.A. 8042, OFWs are living witness of continuing government neglect and worsening plight of OFWs.

“Six (6) OFWs were already beheaded under the Arroyo administration, 59 more are awaiting their execution. Six to 10 bodies of OFWs are arriving at different Philippine airports daily; while the numbers of sexual and physical abuses, labor malpractices are increasing in an alarming proportion, in the Middle East alone averaging 5-8 cases daily,” Monterona added.

Monterona said that they received information that a bicameral committee meeting is scheduled to tackle SB 3286 and HB 5649 claiming that its amendments to RA 8042 would result to a higher standard of protection and promotion of the welfare of migrant Filipinos.

“We already read the consolidated version of the proposed bills amending R.A. 8042 and find it as merely a vain attempt trying to “harmonize” the intensified exportation of human labor and so called “migration management” on the one hand and the numerous cases of abuses, maltreatment, rampant migrant rights violations, and burdening government fees and exactions and charges by unscrupulous recruitment agencies on the other,” Monterona opined.

Monterona cited Sec.2 (c) of the consolidated bill that affirms “the State shall continue to create local employment opportunity and promote equitable distribution of wealth” but in practice under the Arroyo administration it even issued Administrative Order No. 247 on December 2008 ordering POEA and other government line-agencies to aggressively market OFWs in the absence of clear rights protection mechanism for OFWs abroad.

Monterona further said that the consolidated bill also affirms the State principle that “recognizes and encourage OFWs to participate in the decision-making process & to be represented in institutions”, but appointing authority is still vested to the President; not the OFWs organizations themselves.

“Thus, with regards to the management of OFWs trust fund now amounting to Php.12-B held in trust to the government, OFWs and their organizations have never been consulted and are kept blind to the real status of the OFW trust fund, though there are appointed land-based and sea-based representatives at the OWWA-Board but they are simply working for and at the pleasure and confidence of the President making them weak and helpless against the political interests of the President,” Monterona averred.

Monterona also raises concern on the provision in the proposed consolidated bill, Sec 2 (i) which states that government fees and cost of recruitment is FREE; “This is vague as in Section 34 of the consolidated proposed bill, it states “fees shall remain at their present level”, which we believe the government could increase these fees anytime if they wanted to, and we can’t allow such riding provision that would only squeeze us further dry of our earnings,” the OFW leader added.

Monterona said another disturbing provision of the proposed consolidated bill is Section 15 about the creation of Emergency Repatriation Fund which source is to be collected from placement and recruitment agency contribution ranging from US$50 to US$100.

“Again just like the OWWA membership fee of US$25 supposed to be paid by the employer for the OFW, in reality it is being pass on and shouldered by the OFWs, same worry that the Emergency Repatriation fund will be pass on to OFWs, again burdening them too much,” Monterona continued.

Migrante-ME also express its opposition against the proposed mandatory insurance for OFWs as it is just an additional burden pass on to OFWs shoulder by unscrupulous recruitment agency.

“The above are just few of the many anti-OFW provisions that could be found in the proposed consolidated bill amending R.A. 8042; Migrante International has formally submitted its position paper to the House-Senate Bicameral Committee and we are hoping that they will seriously consider our petition as we are at the forefront protecting OFWs rights and welfare,” Monterona added.

The OFW-leader ended saying “Any amendment to the already anti-OFW Migrant Workers and Overseas Filipinos Act or R.A. 8042 should not be made a mockery of government responsibility to protect OFWs abroad, and an excuse to disguise government’s continued neglect to OFWs rights and welfare happening now under the most anti-OFWs administration of Mrs. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.” –end-

Reference:
John Leonard Monterona
Migrante Middle East regional coordinator
Mobile No.: 00966 564 97 8012

Conejos failed to win IOM

2009-09-13T15:14:00.000+03:00

13 September 2009
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Conejos failed to win IOM position

The global alliance of migrant Filipinos revealed that Department of Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Esteban Conejos failed to win the Deputy Director General position for the International Organization for Migration. “We are relieved to find out that Undersecretary Conejos opponent won by a landslide,” says Garry Martinez, chairperson of Migrante International. “We see this failure of Undersecretary Conejos to bag the nomination as a vindication of our call that the Undersecretary does not deserve to head such an important migrant body.”

Martinez, continued, “We were outraged when President Gloria Arroyo herself nominated Usec. Conejos last April as the country’s nominee to the global migration body. It was of no consequence to her that, under his watch, the Office of the Undersecretary for Migrant Affairs, has turned from bad to worse in terms of protecting the rights of migrant Filipinos. ”

Migrante together with their chapters and network here and abroad sent a barrage of letters to the Director General of the IOM stating their strong opposition to the nomination of Undersecretary Conejos as IOM Deputy Director General.

“Since Conejos appointment and assumption to Office as Under Secretary for Migrant Workers Affairs with the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs under the supervision of the Office of the President, cases of abuses, sexual, physical and mental and numerous cases of jailed Filipino migrant workers and on death row have tremendously increased in the absence of the Philippine government affirmative intervention. Numerous cases brought by our organization to his office has either not been acted upon or has been subject to numerous delays,” Martinez explained.

The group claims that the Arroyo administration decided to nominate Conejos to the IOM after his appointment as co-chairperson of the 2nd Global Forum on Migration and Development which was held in the Philippine last year.

“We hope that Conejos failure to be promoted in an international body will serve as a lesson to government officials who have done disservice to distressed OFWs abroad. We believe that exposing Conejos’ track record of incompetence and wanton disregard for the plight of millions of Filipino Migrant workers were the reasons why he dismally failed to win the said election,” Martinez warned.

“We would like to congratulate IOM and its new Deputy Director General Laura Thompson. We sincerely hope that Ms. Thompson would, indeed, serve the interests of migrants well,” Martinez added.

Laura Thompson is a former Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Costa Rica to the United Nations Office before winning the IOM position. She was elected by a two-thirds majority vote of the IOM Council, which brought together the Organization's Member States including the Philippines.

“Meanwhile, the only way Undersecretary Conejos can get back the trust of OFWS is if he sincerely and compassionately addresses migrants’ rights and concerns,” Martinez concluded.###

Reference:
Garry Martinez, Chaiperson
Migrante International
Tel No.: 09217229740

No to tax on text messages!

2009-09-11T13:49:00.000+03:00

No to tax on text messages!
OFWs urge to join text barrage campaign to oppose anti-OFW tax on text bill

Press Release
11 September 2009

Migrante-Middle East, an alliance of overseas Filipino workers’ organizations in the Middle East, today said it also opposes House Bill 6625, a proposed legislation originated in the House of Representatives Ways and Means Committee imposing tax on text messages.

“This government is killing OFWs and their families so softly! This is just another burden to OFWs and their families who are already bleeding dry due to numerous government fees and imposition of charges by recruitment agencies,” said John Leonard Monterona, Migrante-Middle East regional coordinator.

Monterona said the proponents of HB 6625 do not really understand the dilemma of the 10-M OFWs and overseas Filipinos who are away from their families who frequently use international roaming SIM cards to constantly communicate with their loved ones back home.

“Using my roaming SIM card, I usually consume my P100 load for about 5 text messages for my wife and kids; now if tax will be imposed, probably I could only send 2 or 3 text messages for P100 load to my wife limiting me to only say to her “I luv U” or “gud nite”,” Monterona added.

“The Congress should consider that the semi-skilled and non-skilled OFWs like construction workers, service workers, household service workers and domestic helpers, usually paid at about US$300 to US$450 per month, who will be the most to be affected by this tax on text measure,” Monterona claimed.

Monterona said every time the government thinks for additional sources of funds, OFWs are never spared from additional taxes which only suggest an additional burden, and yet the government is only wasting public funds aside from that went to the big pockets of corrupt public officials, elected or appointed under the Arroyo government.

Monterona cited for instance the imposition of documentary stamp tax of .05% for every US$ 100 OFW remittance under the newly implemented BIR Code.

“Despite the huge contribution of OFWs remittances that reached to US$16.43-B last year keeping the economy afloat, here again, few anti-OFW blood-sucking Congressmen imposing tax on our text messages to our love one back home,” Monterona added.

A would-be OFW or returning OFW usually spent P15,000 to P25,000 for the processing of his or her deployment formalities aside from the placement fee charge by recruitment agency which allowable amount is equivalent to 1-month salary of the OFW.

Monterona said his group will use text barrage urging fellow OFWs and their families to oppose HB 6625.

“OFWs and their families vow to oppose this tax on text messages; Migrante chapters in the Middle East are going to campaign against tax-on-text proponent-Congressm en come 2010 elections,” Monterona ended. # # #

Reference:
John Leonard Monterona
Migrante Middle East regional coordinator
Mobile No.: 00966 564 97 8012

OFW group to Congress

2009-09-11T11:07:00.001+03:00

OFW group to Congress: Investigate alleged diversion of OAV funds

11 September 2009
Press Release

An alliance of overseas Filipino workers’ organizations based in the Middle East, today said to shed light on the issue of alleged diversion of OAV funds intended for the implementation of OAV registrations abroad, the Congress House Committees on Overseas Workers Affairs (COWA), and Foreign Affairs must investigate the issue.

“In aid of legislation, the Congress concerned committees such as the Committee on Overseas Workers Affairs and the Committee on Foreign Affairs must conduct an inquiry in aid of legislation on the alleged diversion of OAV funds intended for OAV registration,” said John Leonard Monterona, Migrante-Middle East regional coordinator.

Monterona said they were informed that the budget intended for the conduct of OAV registration was released by the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) to the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), not to the Commissions on Elections.

“We wonder why for this year’s OAV registration, the DBM released the budget for the conduct of OAV registration to the DFA and not to the COMELEC as the lead agency on this particular exercise. In fact, the COMELEC could only deputize different RP posts abroad for mobilization and implementation of the OAV law (R.A. 9198) but it is still the COMELEC that is in-charge of the enforcement, administration and implementation of the OAV law,” Monterona added.

Monterona said if there is a separate budget allocated to DFA-Overseas Absentee Voting Secretariat intended for the expenses associated with OAV registration; then the DFA must account this to the public for scrutiny.

“Because until now, it is still puzzling us why the registration period for overseas absentee voters has been shortened from thirteen months (13) to seven (7) months that ended last 31 August 2009 if in fact there is budget intended for it to complete the original registration period of 13 months same as of previous OAV registrations?” Monterona queried.

“We would like to know that if the budget for OAV registration was really used for what it is intended and if it has something to do with the shortening of OAV registration from originally 13 months to 7 months long,” Monterona added.

Monterona said the shortening of OAV registration is a major issue as to the implementation of the OAV law (R.A. 9198) as we have seen it resulted to disenfranchisement of the millions of OFWs and Overseas Filipinos abroad.

Monterona cited that as at end of August, the deadline for the shortened OAV registration, there are only 200,637 new registrants; “This is way, way behind the original target of 1-M voters in the 2010 election,” he added.

“We reiterate our call to the members of the Congress to investigate the alleged diversion of funds for the OAV registrations abroad and determine if it has something to do with the shortening of OAV registrations that resulted to disenfranchisement of millions of OFWs and overseas Filipinos abroad,” Monterona ended. # # #

Reference:
John Leonard Monterona
Migrante Middle East regional coordinator
Mobile No.: 00966 564 97 8012

Real reason for shortening OAV registration

2009-09-10T11:25:00.000+03:00

Real reason for shortening OAV registration:
Due to lack of funds or diversion of funds? –OFW group

Press Release
10 September 2009

Migrante-Middle East, an alliance of overseas Filipino workers’ organization in the Middle East today said it can’t fully understand why the overseas absentee voting registration period that is supposed to be 13-month long were shortened to just 7-month duration that ended on 31 August 2009.

“Until now, it is still puzzling us, OFWs abroad, why the registration period for overseas absentee voters has been shortened from thirteen months (13) to seven (7) months that ended last 31 August 2009, the very main reason why OAV registrants have barely reached more than 200,000, way behind COMELEC’s original target of 1-M OAV voters for the 2010 elections?” said John Leonard Monterona, Migrante-Middle East regional coordinator.

Monterona said the COMELEC en banc has passed a resolution to effect the shortening of this year’s OAV registration that started from 1st February and have ended on 31st August 2009; “Upon knowing that the COMELEC passed a resolution shortening OAV’s registration period, we issued statement asking why shorten the registration and have campaigned for its extension ‘til end of December,” Monterona averred.

Monterona further said the resolution passed by the COMELEC is per see a justification why it needs to shortened the OAV registration.

“Though we heard the reason cited by the COMELEC in deciding to shorten the OAV registration, it is as “shallow as the water in the pail”,” the OFW leader continued.

“Until we got the information that the budget intended for the conduct of OAV registration was released by the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) to the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), not to the Commissions on Elections,” Monterona added.

Monterona said the COMELEC being the lead agency for the registration of voters, just like previous OAV registrations, must receive the budget directly from the DBM so that it can properly manage the conduct of OAV registrations based on the original durations with funds on its hands.

“Now, we are asking a legitimate question: Is the COMELEC constrained then by the limited funds given to them by the Department of Foreign Affairs, thus it was forced to shorten the OAV registration to only 7 months?” Monterona queried.

Monterona said if that is the case, OFWs have reason to believe that it is the Arroyo administration’ s intention to disenfranchise the millions of OFWs abroad as the DBM and DFA are under the Executive branch controlling even the budget that is for the COMELEC limiting the latter to successfully implement OAV registrations.

“Is this part of the administration’ s grand scheme so that a big number out of the 10-M OFWs and overseas Filipinos could not participate in electing righteous opposition candidates?, thus the administrations candidate would surely win in the 2010 elections and the Arroyos’ continue to control the new administration to absolve her and her family from numerous graft and corruption charges? Monterona added.

“OFWs and their families will not brand the Arroyo administration as the most-anti OFWs and OFWs’ nightmare if its really working for the welfare and protection of OFWs; even the basic rights of OFWs to vote as guaranteed by the Constitution and the Overseas Absentee Voting law, is crippled by this most distrusted Arroyo administration,” Monterona ended.

Migrante-ME is calling the attention of the Congress to look into this matter during budget deliberations and to ensure that funds for a special purpose such as the OAV registration must be used for what it is intended by the law.

Reference:
John Leonard Monterona
Migrante Middle East regional coordinator
Mobile No.: 00966 564 97 8012

300 stranded OFWs in Jeddah

2009-09-09T13:53:00.000+03:00

300 stranded OFWs in Jeddah awaiting repatriation
Why wait for Gloria to come? Immediately repatriate them –Migrante-ME

Press Release
9 September 2009

Migrante-Middle East, the largest alliance of overseas Filipino workers organizations in the Middle East, today said an estimated 300 stranded OFWs in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia have long been waiting for the day to come for their repatriation so that they will be reunited with their families back home.

“We received reports from our Migrante chapter in Jeddah that the numbers of distress stranded OFWs in Jeddah seeking for repatriation have reached now to 300; yesterday, they were transferred to Hajj Airport in Jeddah hoping for their eventual deportation,” said John Leonard Monterona, Migrante-Middle East regional coordinator.

Monterona said repatriation of distress OFWs whose numbers usually swell during and after Ramadan is a recurring problem in Jeddah which the Philippine Consulate General failed to solve. “This has been the same problem on previous years,” Monterona continued.

Monterona said if deployment of OFWs abroad easily takes place within 1 month to 3 months in the maximum, repatriating ran away OFWs victim of abuses and maltreatment will take 3 months to 1 year long before they will be repatriated.

“But this should not be case, the “One Country Team” approach by the government is not working and ineffective; it must be coupled with genuine protection mechanism that would ensure that OFWs rights and welfare is being guaranteed by receiving host governments as well,” Monterona added.

Monterona said Migrante chapter in Jeddah first came to aid and has provided assistance to distress OFWs sometime in June when ran away OFWs started to build up in numbers under the Khandera Birdge in Jeddah.

“The PCG and OWWA in Jeddah was informed and urged to provide assistance to them; but to our dismay, OWWA failed to provide even food for their daily subsistence,” Monterona added.

Monterona further said other OFW groups, moved by the spirit of bayanihan, also started bringing foods and other necessary things for distress OFWs in Jeddah under the Khandera bridge; thanks to other OFW groups, but no thanks to OWWA which failed to provide assistance to distress OFWs abroad,” Monterona lamented.

“So where’s the Php.12-B OWWA fund intended for providing welfare services and assistance to distress OFWs abroad? How and where OWWA intend to spend the billions of OFWs trust fund?” Monterona queried.

Monterona said the 300 stranded OFWs now inside the Hajj Airport in Jeddah is hoping to be repatriated soon; in fact they are readying and now eager to be home and be reunited with their loved ones.

“But their repatriation will not happen any day from now until Mrs. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo arrived in Saudi Arabia reportedly in mid-September,” Monterona averred.

“Just like her previous visit in the Kingdom, she will make sure that she has a trophy to present to the public –the 300 stranded OFWs; this is cheap publicity stunt at the expense of OFWs lives and well being,” Monterona added.

“Ridiculous! The Arroyo government that endlessly peddles OFWs, also the very cause of OFWs misery, is reluctantly sending distress OFWs back home making them an object of her cheap gimmickry to deceive the public,” Monterona opined.

“With or without Gloria coming to Saudi Arabia, the hundreds of distress and stranded OFWs must be repatriated immediately as it is primary government responsibility,” Monterona ended. # # #

Reference:
John Leonard Monterona
Migrante Middle East regional coordinator
Mobile No.: 00966 564 97 8012

OFW remains at Saudi hospital for a month now

2009-09-04T13:44:00.001+03:00

OFW remains at Saudi hospital for a month now;
OFW group urges RP post to arrange repatriation of remains

Press Release
4 September 2009

An alliance of Overseas Filipino workers’ organizations based in the Middle East today said it has received reports from its chapter in Al Jouf region of Saudi Arabia about an OFW whose remains is at hospital’s morgue.

“The information we have received from KGS-Migrante Al Jouf chapter Chairperson Romeo Villacarlos is that the remains of a certain OFW Danny Pacion is still at a morgue in Qurrayat, a city near the borders of Saudi Arabia and Jordan,” said John Leonard Monterona, Migrante-Middle East regional coordinator.

According to Monterona, KGS-Migrante Al Jouf Chairperson Villacarlos called him yesterday and informed him that the remains of OFW Danny Pacion were still at a morgue for more than a month now.

Villacarlos said OFW Danny Pacion, on his mid-30’s, died due to heart attacked while he was sleeping sometime in August 2009 at their camp site in Qurrayat, near the borders of Saudi and Jordan.

It was learned that OFW Pacion is working as a loader operator for M/s. Al Rashid Trading and Contracting Co. receiving a monthly salary of 1,200 Saudi riyals. He was deployed by Nawras recruitment and placement agency located in Ermita, Manila sometime in the last quarter of 2007.

“Based on the limited information we got, we are calling the attention of the Philippine Embassy-Assistant to the Nationals Section to validate this information so that the family and relatives of said OFW will be informed accordingly,” Monterona said.

Monterona is also urging the Philippine Embassy-Assistant to the Nationals Section to immediately arrange the repatriation of the OFWs remains and belongings.

“We are also calling OWWA Administrator Carmelita Dimzon to extend assistance to the family such as burial assistance, among other assistance due him right after the deceased OFW’s family is informed and advise them accordingly,” Monterona ended. # # #

Reference:
John Leonard Monterona
Migrante Middle East regional coordinator
Mobile No.: 00966 564 97 8012

2009-09-03T12:05:00.000+03:00

12-B OFW trust fund not safe under the Arroyo administration
Misuse and diversion of fund looms as election comes nearer

Press Release
3 September 2009

Migrante-Middle East, an alliance of overseas Filipino workers’ organizations in the Middle East, today said the 12-B OFWs trust fund is like gold in a pot which Malacanang is eyeing for its own use to advance its own political agenda and interests amid the public uproar on Mrs. Arroyo’s sons’ property acquisitions in the United States.

“Under the Arroyo administration that is perceived to be most corrupt, the 12-B OFWs trust fund is not safe; without OFWs close watch, it may disappear without notice,” warned by John Leonard Monterona, Migrante-Middle East regional coordinator.

Monterona said the OFWs trust fund is growing not because of the sound and judicious investments and wise fund management of OWWA but because there are more than 3,300 OFWs being deployed daily, all were compulsory charged of US$25 OWWA membership.

Monterona further said since the Arroyo administration continuously peddling OFWs abroad just like a commodity for export benchmarking its 1-M yearly target, no wonder the OFWs fund held in trust to the government will naturally grow every year.

From barely Php.6.2-B on fiscal year 2002, it is now believed to reach Php.12-B.

“Thus, OWWA administrator Dimzon could not validly claim that the OFWs trust fund is growing because of their investments and fund management; like previous OWWA administrators she too is misusing the funds as there are only few services, welfare programs and social benefits provided by OWWA to OFWs stakeholders and their families,” Monterona added.

Monterona said in fact there are previous OWWA investments which incurred huge losses instead of good dividends like the government’s buy out Frederick Hotel and the granting of loan to Landoil Resources during the Aquino administration; the Smokey Mountain Rehabilitation and Development project during the Ramos administration, among many others that were secretly made without consultations to OFWs stakeholders as the real owners of the fund.

“We are also witness how the Arroyo administration misuses the OFWs trust fund by secretly transferring Php.4-B OWWA Medicare fund to Philhealth by virtue of Executive order 182 which was used then distributing free Philhealth cards during the 2004 Presidential campaign of Mrs. Arroyo to woo voters in Pampanga and Visayas, the 70-M incurred losses for the pre-departure loan, the 260-M bogus claims of OWWA Medicare exposed by no other than then OWWA Administrator Virgilio Angelo, among other misuses and malversation of funds,” Monterona claimed.

Monterona said while the idea of putting hospitals for OFWs is for the benefits of OFWs and members of their families, it is objectionable if the OFWs trust fund will be used without properly consulting OFWs stakeholders and their organizations representing them, and without clear guidelines using the funds for that purpose.

“We are also questioning the timing of the proposal to put up hospitals for OFWs using the 12-B OFWs trust fund as elections is fast approaching; we suspect the same modus operandi on 2004 Presidential elections where a portion of OFW trust fund has been misused,” Monterona averred.

“We challenge OWWA Admin. Dimzon to publicly publish OWWA Statement of Account by posting it at different OWWA offices abroad and on its Main Office in Pasay, so that the almost 10-M OFW stakeholders may knew where these amounts are being spent by OWWA,” Monterona added.

Monterona is also urging members of the Congress especially the House Committee on Overseas Workers Affairs (COWA) to look into the OWWA trust fund during Congress deliberation of the proposed national budget for 2009, though there is no allocation provided by the national government to OWWA as its budget allocation comes from the US$25 compulsory contributions of OFWs but as a measure in safeguarding the 12-B OFWs fund from the hands of the crooks. –end-

Reference:
John Leonard Monterona
Migrante Middle East regional coordinator
Mobile No.: 00966 564 97 8012

Hold special OAV registration

2009-09-01T15:00:00.000+03:00

September 1, 2009
PRESS RELEASE

Migrante to COMELEC: Hold special OAV registration

The biggest global alliance of OFWs trooped down to the Comelec today to appeal for an Overseas Absentee Voting special registration claiming that the allocated period for the just concluded registrations of new voters abroad was not enough.

“They gave OFWs 13 months to register before the 2007 elections. We are wondering why this time, the Comelec just gave us less than 7 months. OFWs has only one day-off a week, so practically we were only given 28 days to register for the 2010 election. We reiterate our appeal to the Comelec to give us more time so that we can participate in choosing the next national leaders of our country this coming election,” says Gina Esguerra, secretary general of Migrante International.

Esguerra claimed that they were trying to hold a dialogue with Comelec Chairman Jose Melo before the conclusion of OAV registration last August 31, 2009, but the meeting was only set today with Commissioner Armando Velasco.

“We would even like to invite the Comelec Commissioners to visit OFWs in the Middle East specifically in Saudi Arabia so that they will see the actual conditions why OFWs are having a hard time to register. We believe we have done our part when Chairman Melo wrote to us seeking Migrante’s assistance to encourage OFWs to register. It is now time for Comelec to give consideration for OFWs by setting a special registration period up to November 20, 2009,” Esguerra added.

The group explained that holding a special registration up to November 20 is reasonable enough since the schedule for filing of candidacy will only begin on November 21, 2009. They also claimed that OFWs tend to participate more on Presidential election as experienced during the 2004 elections rather than on senatorial election that was held last 2007.

“The number of OAVs that have registered so far clearly shows that there was not enough time for Comelec to attain its 1 million target. OFWs deserved to be given a second chance to practice their right to vote and all we are asking is an additional two month period which is still shorter than what the Comelec has given us before the 2007 election,” Esguerra concluded.

OAV registration concluded last August 31 with only less than 300,000 OFWs signing up for the registration. When the said registration began in February 11, 2009, Comelec set a target of 1 million new OAV registrants.###

Reference:
Gina Esguerra, Secretary General, 09058361412
Ailyn Abdula, Media Officer, 09212708994

Extend OAV listing

2009-08-25T15:39:00.000+03:00

August 25, 2009
PRESS RELEASE

Migrante to COMELEC: Extend OAV listing

With only a week left before the deadline of overseas absentee voters’ (OAV) registration, the largest alliance of overseas Filipino workers’ groups appealed to the Commission on Elections to extend the ongoing OAV registration.

Migrante International, in a statement, said it is “very disappointed” with the COMELEC’s “snail-paced” approval of OAV registrants. The group said that out of 162,356 OAV applications so far, only 17,000 of them have been approved by the COMELEC’s Resident Election Registration Boards (RERB).

The Migrante leader explained that since the start of the OAV registration period last February, the RERBs have convened only twice, in March and in April this year.

OAV registration ends August 31, 2009.

“The COMELEC’s snail paced approval of OAV registrants is unforgivable. We are afraid that, because of this sad development, OFWs might deem the COMELEC insincere in its mandate to ensure our hard fought right to vote,” Martinez said.

“Migrante mobilized all of its chapters and members overseas to encourage Filipinos abroad to register, only to find out that the COMELEC has been sluggish in approving OAV applications,” he added, stressing that they have chapters in nine (9) of the ten (10) countries worldwide who topped OAV listing. ”The deafening clamor of OFWs around the world for an extension of the oav registration seems to be falling on deaf ears.”

Martinez disclosed that COMELEC Chairman Jose Melo wrote them a letter last month asking for help from Migrante chapters worldwide in the promotion of OAV registration.

“We challenge the COMELEC, under the leadership of Chairman Melo, to rise up to the occasion and prove that the right to suffrage of Filipinos overseas is their priority by extending the OAV registration until December 31, 2009; by working triple time in conducting more field registrations and information campaigns and by stepping up the approval process of pending OAV applications for registration,” Martinez concluded. ###

Reference:
Garry Martinez, Chairperson
Mobile:09217229740

On Arroyo’s forthcoming trip to Saudi

2009-08-25T14:56:00.000+03:00

Press Release
25 August 2009

On Arroyo’s forthcoming trip to Saudi
Is but another junket trip unless… she forge OFW protection agreement, legalization of undocumented, bring home the thousands distress and ran away OFWs in Saudi –Migrante-ME

Migrante-Middle East, an alliance of overseas Filipino workers’ organizations in the Middle East today said the forthcoming trip of Mrs. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to Saudi Arabia is just another junket trip which expenses are being charged from the public coffer without gain for the Filipino people and OFWs in particular.

“The ‘Queen of Junketeers’ is coming to Saudi Arabia only to sell cheap Filipino labor. As expected, her economic advisers will be drumming up that her visit is to lure investors and expand market for Philippine products, foremost is peddling OFWs in the Middle East sans concrete protection to OFWs,” said John Leonard Monterona Migrante-Middle East regional coordinator.

Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto Romulo told local media yesterday that the President has accepted the invitation to make a state visit to Saudi Arabia as well as an invitation to speak before an international forum organized by the London-based magazine The Economist.

“Mrs. Arroyo’s scheduled visit to Saudi will coincide Eid Holidays after Ramadan expected to start on 19 – 25 of September. But we noticed her administration has been most brutal to our Muslim brothers and sisters in Mindanao with direct supervision of US military operatives in blatant violation of Philippine sovereignty and Constitution instead of pursuing peace talk with Muslim rebel groups,” Monterona added.

Monterona said after milking overseas-bound Filipino workers, her administration continue to neglect OFWs when victimized by cruel employers.

“While being laugh at her boasting that her government is a model for other labor-exporting countries in the protection of migrant workers, we challenge her to sign an agreement with the Saudi government to provide a free shelter for distressed migrant workers and to work and develop a mechanism that would legitimize so called undocumented migrant workers who have run away from their employers due to abuse and maltreatment,” Monterona added.

Migrante’s Monterona dares Mrs. Arroyo to ask the host government to develop a mechanism that would eradicate if not punish those employers that exploit migrant workers with contract substitution that result to salary reduction and requires long working hours.

“Instead of ordering her labor vendors headed by DoLE Sec. Marianito Roque to review work contracts of OFWs that is only targeted to exact fees from employers per contract reviews, why can’t she sign a contract with the host government that would protect Filipino workers from unscrupulous employers who substitute OFWs employment contract that are disadvantageous to OFWs,” Monterona averred.

“The Philippine president should stop claiming international relations as the centerpiece of her political and economic reforms when she could not even forge agreements to protect and eliminate exploitation and discrimination of Filipino migrant workers whose billions of remittances keeping the economy afloat,” Monterona added.

The OFW leader said the next most important task of Mrs. Arroyo during her scheduled visit to Saudi Arabia is to work for the legalization of all undocumented and run away OFWs mostly victims of abuses and maltreatment, not only in Saudi but entire Middle East where an estimated 2-M OFWs have been deployed.

“To our conservative estimate there are about nearly 26,000 undocumented and run away OFWs in the Middle East mostly in Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Jordan and Lebanon,” Monterona ended. # # #

Migrante commends jailed officers

2009-08-25T13:53:00.000+03:00

24 August 2009
PRESS RELEASE

Reference:
Garry Martinez, Chairperson-09217229740
Ailyn Abdula, Media Officer, 09212708994

Migrante commends jailed officers:
Calls on embassy officials to emulate their heroism and sacrifice

The global alliance of OFWs is jubilant over the release of the officers of its chapter in Riyadh, the Kapatiran sa Gitnang Silangan (KGS). The Saudi police decided to drop the cases against them. The group likewise called on Embassy officials and staff to follow the good example of helping distressed OFWs.

“We salute our officers in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, for being steadfast in their commitment to help our fellow kababayans in distress. Their readiness to face the risk that entails assisting OFWs who need help is a virtue worth emulating especially by our government officials,” says Garry Martinez, chairperson of Migrante International.

Last August 14, eighteen (18) Officers and members of the KGS were apprehended in a raid conducted by religious police in the said city. The group was later charged with violating the cultural law of Saudi Arabia.

“We are glad that in the end, truth and justice have prevailed, running away from abuse is not a crime and those who help them are certainly not criminals. We advice our officers in Riyadh to take sometime to rest before embarking on their work in their organization.Tuloy ang Laban! Tuloy ang pagtulong sa ating mga kababayan! (Onward with the struggle! Let us continue to help our countrymen!),” Martinez concluded.

The group likewise thanked all those who helped in working for the release of the arrested Migrante officials including what they called enlightened government officials who recognizes the noble work of Migrante in Riyadh. ###

Solidarity Statement to KGS from Austria

2009-08-25T13:06:00.002+03:00

Statement of Solidarity
from PINAS FIRST*
Vienna, Austria
20 August 2009

PINAS FIRST Statement

We at PINAS FIRST* in Austria condemn the unwarranted police raid of the Kapatiran sa Gitnang Silangan (KGS) safe house last Friday, 14th August, 2009.

We decry this unjustifiable crackdown as the KGS is an established legitimate organization committed to augmenting government efforts to provide temporary refuge, counselling on rights and welfare, and other forms of assistance to distressed and runaway OFWs who number in the
thousands in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia alone. The KGS has never been involved with any illegal or criminal activities.

We demand that the Saudi government immediate release the KGS officers/members/service workers and distressed OFWs apprehended during the raid to the custody of the Philippine Embassy in Riyadh (and to immediately return any seized items of the KGS.))

We demand that the Philippine government work out with host countries a comprehensive program to support and protect the rights and welfare of OFWs. It should export labour only in countries where democracy and freedom are respected and the rights of every citizen are guaranteed.

It should demand assurance that citizens and legitimate organizations like the KGS:

- be free to perform their work and

- have access to avenues for complaints against the police in the manner envisaged by article 2 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, where the government is obliged to ensure that the victim has an "effective" remedy determined by "competent" judicial, administrative or legislative authorities.

We demand that the Philippine government examine the economic and social aspects of its labour export policy. It is high time the government implement genuine industrialization and land reform that will generate jobs for the Filipinos in their own country.

* Pinoy in Austrian Society For Integrity, Reforms and Social Transformation

Case dismissed vs. KGS

2009-08-25T12:33:00.001+03:00

Press Release
24 August 2009

Saudi police dropped case against detained KGS members
“Case dismissed.”

“This is the information we have received from Eric Jocson, Chairperson of the Kapatiran sa Gitnang Silangan (Brotherhood in the Middle East), the local chapter of Migrante in Riyadh,” said John Leonard Monterona, Migrante-Middle East regional coordinator.

Monterona said Jocson informed him yesterday that the “prostitution” case that is supposed to be filed by the Saudi police to 18 KGS members and run away distress OFWs arrested when the Saudi cultural police raided the KGS safe house last August 14during the group’s welfare case assistance meeting has not been filed and is now dropped by the Saudi police.

“The dropping of the case has also been confirmed to me by Vice Consul Roussel Reyes, saying that their case officers were able to convince the Police that there is no “prostitution” as those apprehended are members of legitimate OFW organization providing assistance to distress and run away OFWs,” Monterona added.

Monterona said Vice Consul Reyes told him that the timely intervention of case officers Mr. Frias, Akrahman, and Harris resulted positively as they managed to convinced the Saudi police that nothing illegal happened or there is no commission of “prostitution” as alleged by the apprehending cultural police, locally called Muttawa.

“We commend embassy’s case officers Mr. Frias, Akrahman, and Harris under the direct guidance of Vice Consul Roussel Reyes for their timely intervention that lead to the dropping of the case against our members. We will not hesitate to laud the good job done by embassy’s case officers and officials for that matter so long as they will provide same assistance to all distress and run away OFWs not only to KGS and Migrante members,” Monterona added.

“Technically, there is no case filed yet against our KGS members; then came the information that Saudi police dropped the case against them. With this development, we are hoping that KGS Secretary-General Mike Garlan and member Rustico Marcos will be released any time from today who have been in jail for 11 days now,” Monterona added.

Monterona said Vice Consul Reyes told him that while those with Iqama (working permit) will be released immediately after the police received the noticed from the Prosecutor, those who have expired Iqama or run away will be deported.

According to Monterona, 2 of the 5 detained OFW women namely Sarah Gumansing and Elvira De Guzman have already been released in the custody of their respective employers; while run away OFWs Clemia Corpuz, Rosa Salazar, and Amauri Meriz will be deported.

Run away Reynaldo Balagtas who is only working for 2 months in Saudi had filed a labor case against his employer at the Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO) in Riyadh assisted by KGS a day prior to the said raid, however his employer also filled a case against him at the Saudi labor office. Accordingly, he will be deported too.

“We are yet to see the release of still detained KGS official Mike Garlan and member Rustico Marcos, in which embassy’s case officers should closely follow as they are being told by the head prison guard that if they will not be taken into the custody of their sponsor, then they’ll be sent to deportation center too,” Monterona averred.

The OFW leader said the next most important task the RP Embassies in the Middle East should be doing is to work for the legalization of all undocumented and run away OFWs mostly victims of abuses and maltreatment.

“To our conservative estimate there are about nearly 26,000 undocumented and run away OFWs in the Middle East mostly in Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Jordan and Lebanon,” Monterona ended. # # #

Reference:
John Leonard Monterona
Migrante Middle East regional coordinator
Mobile No.: 00966 564 97 8012

GMA Appointment, Threat to OWWA Funds

2009-08-22T13:27:00.000+03:00

Press Release
20 August 2009

Arroyo’s appointment of her own “trusted man” in the OWWA-BoT threatens the 11.7-B OWWA fund;
OFW group urging fellow OFWs to oppose such high-handed political pay off

“It’s no surprise at all that Gloria MAcapagal-Arroyo will appoint her “trusted men” and will continue to appoint until her term ended or even beyond if her plans to remain in power succeeded paying off his loyal allies; even the welfare-based government agency like OWWA is not spared from her undemocratic political appointments,” thus declared today by John Leonard Monterona, Migrante-ME regional coordinator.

Migrante chapters in the Middle East is reacting to the “mid-night” appointment, devoid of democratic consultations from OFWs and their organizations, of Mr. Joselito “Jojo” Sapio as land-based representative to the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration-Board of Trustee.

“This appointment made by Mrs. Arroyo is again hounded by controversies like many appointments she had made; it only spells out her undemocratic appointment of OFW representation to the OWWA, an government agency directly financed and funded by the millions of OFWs from their US$25 contribution,” Monterona added.

Monterona said appointing someone close to her and who had helped her cheat and win the 2004 Presidential elections threatens the 11.7-B OWWA funds held in thrust to the government.

“OFWs and their families should not forget that Mrs. Arroyo and her administration has a long list of alleged OWWA fund misuse and malversation devoid of consultations from OFWs stakeholders; thus we can’t simply give a nod to the appointment made a her “man” to the OWWA-BoT without giving OFWs the chance to be heard and consulted,” Monterona averred.

Migrante-ME said that it has been observed that the OWWA fund, a collection of $25 per OFW, has been misused not for the attainment of its own mandated purpose of providing welfare programs and services to OFWs and their families but becoming a “milking” fund by the past and the present administrations as revealed on the numerous cases of fund misused.

Migrante’s records revealed some of the alleged anomalous misuse and malversation of OFW funds under Arroyo administration:

• Transfer of P4B OFW Medicare Fund from OWWA to Philippine Health and Insurance Corporation by virtue of a secret issuance of Executive Order 182 devoid of consultations from OFWs as stakeholders of these funds.

• The P260M bogus claims exposed by then OWWA Administrator Virgilio Angelo himself just to justify OWWA Medicare fund transfer to Philhealth

• The un-audited US$293,500 for the Middle East Preparedness Team headed by General Roy Cimatu during the US war of aggression to Iraq where repatriation of OFWs never took placed anyway

Migrante-ME said aside from the aforementioned anomalous investments and misuse of OFWs fund, the OWWA Omnibus Policies was onerously implemented devoid of consultation from OFW-members that practically removed almost all welfare programs that were previously availed by OFWs and families such as the family assistance loan and medical assistance loan.

The OWWA as the main agency tasks to ensure the welfare of OFWs abroad, thousands in distress in the Middle East are hardly given an assistance who are begging for their immediate repatriation so that they could be re-united to their families back home.
Migrante-ME claimed that even the provision of giving airfare tickets for those who are ready for repatriation because they are sick and for humanitarian considerations, OWWA could not give the needed airfare tickets.

"Our OFWs are not beggars that every time they needed assistance to OWWA, they would repeatedly send request but leave un-responded and not acted upon by OWWA welfare officers abroad," Monterona added.

Monterona asked “where the fund is intended to be spent by the Arroyo administration?”

“The appointment of OFW land-based representation to OWWA-BoT is for political exigency; the President has given the freer hand to appoint. Obviously, this appointment became more political especially if the appointing power has the underlying hidden agenda to advance its political interests,” Monterona added.

Migrante’s Monterona further said to appoint someone whom Mrs. Arroyo could be trusted, that someone should be from her “political” company, a necessity for her political survival in the midst of her dwindling popularity and net-satisfaction ratings by the public who is more disappointed, enraged but are protesting her.

Migrante chapters in the Middle East are urging OFWs and organizations to join them to oppose Gloria Arroyo's appointment of his political operator Joselito "Jojo" Sapio to the OWWA Board of Trustee as land-based representative. Such appointment threatens the 11.7-B OWWA funds.

"Let us protect and safeguard the 11.7-B OWWA funds, a compulsory collection of US$25 from every departing OFWs," Monterona ended. # # #

Reference:
John Leonard Monterona
Migrante Middle East regional coordinator
Mobile No.: 00966 564 97 8012

Use diplomacy effectively

2009-08-19T15:58:00.001+03:00

Press Release
19 August 2009

OFW group to DFA, RP posts:
Take custody of detained KGS-Migrante members, use diplomacy effectively

“Philippine Embassies in the Middle East should use diplomacy as an effective tool to help thousands of distress and run away OFWs,” thus today said by John Leonard Monterona, Migrante-ME regional coordinator.

Monterona said as RP posts in the Middle East and around the world are headed by country’s top diplomats they should use their knowledge in diplomacy effectively and pro-actively to help the increasing numbers of distress and run away, abused and maltreated OFWs especially in the Middle East.

“The case of 4 KGS members who are still detained in Riyadh for 5 days now since arrest last Friday for violating Saudi’s customary laws whose only intention is to assist distress and run away OFWs abused and maltreated by their employers is a case in point where the Philippine Embassy could use diplomacy by asking the host government to release the detained KGS members and place them under its custody,” Monterona added.

Those who are still in jail are KGS officers and members Mario Ben, Mike Garlan, Ronilo Reyes, and Rustico Marcos.

While distressed and runaway workers who were arrested along with the KGS members are Rey Balagtas, Elvira De Guzman, Clemia Corpus, Sarah Gumansing, Rosa Salazar, and Amauri Meris.

Monterona said during several phone conversations with Embassy’s officials in Riyadh, he stressed the idea of taking custody of the detained KGS members so that they can be temporarily release and that they could report to their respective work.

“This is the same suggestion given to us by the Human Rights Society of Saudi Arabia, a non-governmental organization in Saudi Arabia advocating the promotion of human rights when we have asked their assistance so that KGS members will be released temporarily,” Monterona added.

“But we are disappointed to hear from our Riyadh-based Philippine Embassy officials that they can’t do it, for whatever reason they only knew,” Monterona averred.

The OFW leader said effective and pro-active diplomacy coupled with genuine desire to help could send back home the more than a hundred run away OFWs that stormed at the Philippine Consulate Offices in Jeddah yesterday.

“There will come a time that these thousands of run away and distress OFWs in Saudi or any country in the Middle East will stage the first ever protest rally of OFWs against their very own government’s continued neglect out of their desperation and discontent,” Monterona opined.

Monterona ended saying “there could be no other form of actions to take for desperate and discontented OFWs and their families than to collectively protest, protest, and protest the criminal neglect of the Arroyo administration to the so called “Modern Heroes” (read: Modern Slaves). # # #

Reference:
John Leonard Monterona
Migrante Middle East regional coordinator
Mobile No.: 00966 564 97 8012

OFWs in Qatar denounces arrest

2009-08-17T13:44:00.001+03:00

Press Statement
16th August 2009

OFWs in Qatar denounces arrest of Migrante leaders in KSA

The Organizing Committee of Migrante-Qatar strongly denounces the arrest of 10 members and officers of the Kapatiran sa Gitnang Silangan (KGS) and three service workers in Riyadh , Kingdom of Saudi Arabia . Among those arrested were women and OFWs seeking advice for their problems.

The arrests happened after the KSA police raided the KGS safehouse at about 3:00 pm last Friday while the KGS was conducting its regular weekly case dialogue and counseling to distressed women OFWs who ran away from abusive situation with their employers. As reported by Migrante Middle East Regional Coordinator John Leonard Monterona, majority of those arrested are still awaiting for their release after the KGS asserted that it is a legitimate group conducting welfare services to those in need.

Migrante members in Qatar are saddened to know that most of our OFWs are experiencing maltreatment and abuse from their employers. Many are left with no options except to run away and seek immediate support to organizations such as the KGS.

The Middle East region that includes Qatar is a major destination for Filipinos who have been forced by the dire situation in our country to go abroad. Unfortunately, it is also a hotbed of problems as countless OFWs experience various types of abuses in their workplaces.

What happened to the KGS leaders and members is alarming for it threatens to further tighten the already limited recourse for assistance for OFWs in need. The incident does not bring any solace either to KGS, whose pursuit is to help alleviate the agony of distressed OFWs, or to OFWs with problems whose hope is to voice out their sufferings and avail the justice that is due to them.

If “running away” from employers due to unbearable maltreatment and abuse is somewhat a criminal offense in the host country, then how do they categorize or name an act of abuse committed by the employer towards their employees?

Migrante Organizing Committee in Qatar calls on to Philippine officials to do their utmost to facilitate the release of the arrested OFWs and do their best to prevent such an incident from happening again.

We also call for the support of the Filipino communities not only in KSA but to the rest of the Filipino communities in the entire Middle East countries to be more vigilant and help in promoting the best welfare of Filipino OFW’s. Each one of us should do our share to uphold and protect our human rights and safeguard our dignity as a person and as Filipinos.

Reference:

Roberto Beltran

Coordinator

Migrante Organizing Committee in Qatar

Mobile no. 00974 7552305

Statement on the Arrest of KGS-Migrante Leaders

2009-08-17T11:05:00.002+03:00

Official Statement
17 August 2009

Statement on the Arrest of KGS-Migrante Leaders

Migrante Saudi Arabia expresses disappointment over the arrest of its leaders and members in Riyadh. While we respect the laws and legal processes of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, we believe the arrest exposes the limitations of its rules concerning 'private gatherings', contact with 'absconders', and what constitutes prostitution.

We do not hope that the Saudi authorities would offer any reprieve soon for organized communities who deal with the exposed symptoms rather than the cause. That, we believe is reserved only for the government of Saudi Arabia to identify and cure.

It is unthinkable, however, for the organized communities such as KGS and Migrante not to provide assistance to compatriots in various distress situations because that would mean absconding to man's inherent humanity. Should we turn a blind eye to anybody calling for help? This incident only requires any concerned individual or group to be more discreet in its mission of providing help whenever and wherever its needed.

As an organization, Migrante KSA and its members normally provide absconders with food whenever needed, monitor their health and safety, usually document their grievances then ultimately refer them to the Philippine government representatives at the Embassy in Riyadh and the Consulate in Jeddah.

Kapatiran sa Gitnang Silangan (KGS-Migrante, or KGS/M) has been the foremost overseas Filipino organization since the 1980s, supporting democratic and national aspirations at the homefront while catering to the needs of compatriots-in-distress in the Kingdom. Even when it lost one of its key leaders to a deranged compatriot in 2000, the group never faltered in its mission. The recent arrest therefore, is only a small glitch in its commitment.

Migrante KSA also releases the following photo of former Kapatiran sa Gitnang Silangan (KGS-Migrante) Chairperson Mario Ben (left) and Mike Garlan, KGS/M Secretary-General (right). At the center is Bidang, KGS/M Committee on Rights and Welfare (CRAW) officer

The three were among the 18 Filipinos arrested on August 14 in Riyadh in what local media termed a 'mixed gathering.' The group was in fact documenting the cases of runaway OFWs before they are turned over to the Philippine Embassy in Riyadh, part of Migrante's standard operating procedure in handling such cases.

KGS, is the local chapter of Migrante International in Riyadh.

Reference:
A.M. Ociones, Chairperson
Migrante KSA
(Migrante International - Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Chapter)
Tel. No.: +966-56-679-3202
Email: migrante_ksa@yahoo.com
URL: http://migrante-ksa.blogspot.com

Helping OFWs is not a Crime

2009-08-17T10:55:00.000+03:00

17 August 2009
For IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Reference:
Garry Martinez, Chairperson, 09217229740
Ailyn Abdula, Media Officer, 09212708994

Helping our Fellow Kababayans Abroad is not a Crime!-Migrante

The largest alliance of Filipino migrants organizations today raised concern over the arrest of some of the officers and members of Migrante-Kapatiran sa Gitnang Silangan (KGS) by Saudi Arabian authorities on August 14. Migrante International also called on the Philippine government to do everything it can for the release of the remaining detainees, including the runaway OFWs Migrante-KGS was counseling.

“The defense and protection of the rights of migrant Filipinos have been sorely lacking that our officers and members in Saudi Arabia have been forced to risk their lives and their safety so they are able to help OFW victims of maltreatment and abuse in Saudi Arabia,” Garry Martinez, Migrante International chairperson, declared. “While we appreciate the efforts that embassy officials have made to work for the release of the detainees, we would like to call on the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) and President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to ensure the release of all our officers and guarantee their safety.”

The KGS officers were arrested in a safehouse where the organization provided for OFW runaways. They were conducting their regular weekly case dialogs and counseling to OFW victims of maltreatment and abuses who ran away from their employers.

According to John Monterona, Migrante Middle East Coordinator, Migrante’s Saudi chapter has been receiving an average of five cases daily. The number of cases has significantly increased since the Philippine government intensified its labor export policy as its response to the global financial and economic crisis.

Martinez continued, “Our KGS chapter is a trailblazer in providing emergency assistance to OFWs in distress in Saudi Arabia. Since its inception, KGS has rescued or facilitated the rescue of thousands of our kababayans in Saudi Arabia. It has also been at the forefront of the campaign for the defense and protection of migrant areas in the region. Our officers and members deserve all the guarantees of protection and defense the Philippine government can offer.”

Migrante International together with its chapters abroad has its program in providing service through a very responsive move on the welfare needs of OFWs in distress. “If this kind of advocacy is a criminal act, who among our kababayans will give attention on the increasing numbers of distressed OFWs given the fact that the Philippine embassies are inutile most of the time in giving immediate action on the problems of OFWs?”, Martinez added.

Martinez called on the Philippine government to decisively address the problem of migrant rights violations in Saudi Arabia which are increasingly becoming more serious in number and in intensity.

“And to our kababayans, given the repressive situation we have, Migrante will not stop in giving attention on your issues to continuously promote the rights and welfare of OFWs”. “We must ensure our Filipino communities abroad to insist our rights to Philippine embassy officials to hear our clamors and demands”, Martinez ended.

On the other hand, Migrante Europe strongly condemns this assault on a sanctuary for Filipino migrants in distress. The assault by the Saudi authorities is another mockery of those whose rights have already been abused and violated. The Philippine government should strongly protest this assault.###

APMM on arrest of Migrante leaders

2009-08-16T22:53:00.000+03:00

Press Statement
16 August 2009

For reference:
Aaron Ceradoy
Program Coordinator
Tel. No.: (852) 92706460

To escape from abuses is not a crime and those who help victims are not criminals
HK group expresses concern on arrest of Migrante leaders in KSA

The Asia Pacific Mission for Migrants (APMM) expresses our gravest concern on the arrest of several leaders and members of Migrante in Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia together with OFWs in distress. They were taken after a raid on their safehouse last Friday where they were conducting their weekly case dialog and providing advices to OFWs who ran away from their abusive employers.

We maintain that escaping from an abusive situation is not a crime and those who offer helpful advises to them on what they can do should not also be treated as criminals. To do so condones maltreatment, exploitation and injustice to migrant workers.

According to reports that reached our HK office, members of the Kapatiran sa Gitnang Silangan (KGS), the Riyadh chapter of Migrante, just met with about five OFWs who ran away from their employers in order to advise them on the best courses of action they can take for their problems. However, the police swooped down into the place of their meeting and arrested everyone.

Criminalization of those who abscond and thereby become undocumented migrants is already an unjust policy. Such becomes even more unjust and unreasonable when even those whose only purpose is to offer assistance that they can give are also charged with criminal acts. When has it become a crime to advise others who are in need?

Migrante-KGS since its establishment has been known even by Philippine officials in KSA to be responsive to the welfare needs of OFWs in distress. This reputation of Migrante-KGS has made them one of the first groups to be approached by OFWs who experience various kinds of problems with their employment.

Many times in the past, the group was even the first one to know of instances of abuses and pointed them out to the Philippine Embassy there in order for them to respond accordingly.

During this period of crisis, we anticipate even harsher actions against runaways and undocumented migrants. The support mechanism that the Filipino migrant’s community provides to those who will encounter problems shall be even more crucial to ensure that the rights of migrants are promoted and justice can be had for those who have been abused.

Instead of criminalizing victims and those who help them, the roots causes why there are numerous migrants are forced to run away must be addressed.

We call on the Philippine Embassy in KSA to immediately act for the release of all the KGS leaders and members. It must ensure that no further prosecution will be done against them and any other organization which provides immediate assistance to distressed OFWs before they are turned over to the Philippine authorities.

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Asia Pacific Mission for Migrants (APMM)
Address: No.2 Jordan Road, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR
Tel. no.: (852) 2723-7536
Fax no.: (852) 2735-4559
General E-mail: apmm@hknet.com

Other Email Addresses:
Managing Director : director@apmigrants.org
Women's Program : women@apmigrants.org
Advocacy Program : advocacy@apmigrants.org
Research and Publication: publications@apmigrants.org

Note: Kindly cc the general email (apmm@hknet.com) for all email correspondence

WEBSITE: www.apmigrants.org

"We dream of a society where families are not broken up by the urgent need for survival.
We dream and will actively work for a homeland where there is opportunity for everyone to live a decent and humane life." *********************************************************************************