This story
was taken from Bulatlat, the Philippines's alternative weekly
newsmagazine (www.bulatlat.com, www.bulatlat.net, www.bulatlat.org).
Vol. VI, No. 13, May 11, 2006
11 OFWs in Saudi Face
Detention Tomorrow
BY AUBREY SC MAKILAN
Posted 4:15 p.m. May 11,
2006 The families of abused and
stranded overseas Filipino workers in Saudi Arabia called for government’s help
for their repatriation, even as President Arroyo is expected to arrive today
with the OFWs pardoned by the Saudi King. In her visit to the Kingdom
of Saudi Arabia, Arroyo was able to get pardon from King Abdullah for the 134
OFWs being detained for minor offenses. “What about the others left
behind?” asked migrant advocates and the families of stranded Filipino migrant
workers in a press conference today. Maita Santiago, Migrante
International Secretary-General said that 11 OFWs will go to jail tomorrow in
Alkhobar, Saudi Arabia if they fail to pay their employer. Among the so-called
Alkhobar 12 were Eduardo de Silva and Estanislao Madayag Jr. who ran away from
their employer. In January, the 12 charged their employer at a Jeddah court
with contract substitution, non-payment of salaries, and illegal termination.
The court, however ruled in favor of their employer and ordered each of the 12
to pay 5,564 Saudi riyals to their employer. De Silva’s wife Lani said
that if they failed to pay the amount on May 12, they will be imprisoned. Her
husband and 10 others are being held inside their employers’ barracks, she
said. One of the 12, Joelito Lesma, was able to escape and return to the
country through backdoor means. “Hihintayin pa ba nilang
makulong ang mga ‘yun bago sila umaksyon? (Is government going to wait for
them to be imprisoned before they act?)” asked the teary-eyed wife. The OFWs and their families
do not have enough money to pay. Lani said that they were told by officials of
the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration that the government has no fund to
pay the employer. “Their cases are just a few
examples of the urgent plight that many Filipino migrants and their families
still face,” said Santiago. “Mrs. Arroyo’s so-called ‘pasalubong’ of even
around 300 OFWs repatriated addresses nothing about the situation of the many
more left behind.” Jinalyn was raped on
February 14 by seven men (her employer, his family and a staff member at her
recruitment agency) while Editha was also abused by her employer. Although both
are now at the Philippine government run shelter, their efforts to obtain
justice against their Saudi Arabian employers are dimming. According to a DFA 2004
report, there are around 1,841 Filipino migrants detained or imprisoned across
the Middle East while 4,429, largely women, are in Philippine government
shelters across the region. Bulatlat © 2006 Bulatlat
■
Alipato Publications Permission is granted to reprint or redistribute this article, provided its author/s and Bulatlat are properly credited and notified.
The families of abused Filipina OFWs Jinalyn Rejano and Editha Orea
were also at the press conference.
“The DFA says Jinalyn’s case was closed because of lack of evidence but when we
spoke to Jinalyn today, she said the case is still open. While we want her to
come home soonest, we also want her rapists imprisoned. We demand justice,”
said Elmer Rejano, her husband.