Catanduanes Forum

January 20, 2010

Hon. Ambassador Antonio P. Villamor
Embassy of the Philippines in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
D3 Collector Road,Diplomatic Quarter
11693 P.O. Box 94366
Riyadh City

Labor Attaché Resty Dela Fuente
Philippine Overseas Labor Office
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Labor Attaché David Des Dicang
Philippine Overseas Labor Office Al-Khobar
Eastern Province, Saudi Arabia

Consul General Ezzedin Tago
Philippine Consulate General in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
Al- Sayeddah Kaddija St.,Al Faisaliyah District 1
P.O. Box 4794, Jeddah 21412
City: Jeddah

Assistance to National Section

Sir:

Greetings of Peace!

This is a reminder that Migrante International all over the kingdom would like to have a case to case dialogue with you to discuss several issues concerning the rights and welfares of our fellow OFWs.

As 2010 starts, our chapters and allied organizations continue to receive day to day OFW's complaint related to cases of abuse and violation of their rights and welfare. Our documents survey results revealed majority of OFW's deployed have experienced gross violations in their employment contracts; unjust labor practices ; no proper legal representation/unattended in court which resulted with no landmark cases won by any OFWs; increase number of OFW's who died due to abuse and maltreatment; numbers of OFWs on the death row, run-ways, stranded, distressed and maltreated are growing rapidly; no action and sincerity from your side to fully resolved all previous pending and on-going cases. The numerous and severe complaints of distressed OFW's are on the rise day to day, including the number of new deployments.

Our conclusion manifested that there is no concrete implementing and genuine OFW's protection mechanism. The lack of protection is unacceptable in a democratic society where the Philippines represents the OFW’s deployments by region were concentrated in KSA. The top ten destinations of OFWs accounting for 82.6% of deployed OFWs was Saudi Arabia. Again, we reiterate our recommendations to provide OFW's full and unconditional protection guaranteed under Migrant Workers Act Law and UN International convention for the Protection of Migrant workers, Refugees and their families. Therefore, OFW's are entitled to legal and other forms of assistance from the Philippine embassy.

Kindly understand, hence, that we become concerned when we heard of those distressed and abused OFWs urgently seeking help and assistance. We also understand the present situation of our RP post /ANS /POLO and other concern government agencies in the kingdom such as: lack of manpower, financial incapability, etc.... We are confident that with determination and hard work you can accomplish the objectives and task mandated on your post to serve and protect migrants OFW's in Saudi Arabia.

Let us highlight some long pending and standing cases from previous years up to present 2010:

• Riyadh Cases
1. The case of 89 OFW's in ANNASBAN Co. - despite the recent congressional overseas workers affairs committee hearing at your office DQ last year to solve their valid request for immediate repatriation, now their condition and plight are getting worse. Explain and update when they are going to repatriate. What action you have been taken against their abusive employer and agencies in the Philippines? When the expected date and time to send them back home in the Philippines?
“Provide full compensation of all 89 Annasban workers as stipulated in the Law and also requested by their family as well as regards to the unexpired portion of their contracts including compensation for forcibly detaining them and other forms of maltreatment.”
2. The case of 79 OFW's in MALAZ Jail, including Mr. Arnold and Jun Pili. Their families are requesting for immediate repatriation. Explain and update the present status of their case. What action you have taken to solve their legitimate request?
• Eastern Region Cases
1. Husain Muhammed Abdullah Al-Shaikh Trading Est., Dammam - 24 OFWs complaining of Illegal Salary deductions and violations in their employment contracts, unjust labor practices. Explain and update their present condition as requested by the OFW's families.
2. Concepcion Baguinat - almost 6 months now and OFW remains still in kingdom. The family request for immediate repatriation of human remains. Update the present status of the case. When is the expected shipment date of remains and belongings?
3. Ian Eras and Henry Dela Cruz - still in Dammam Jail. The OFWs are requesting for a legal assistance to protect them on their alleged crime. Explain and update the present status of the case. Their families are requesting for immediate repatriation.
4. Mr. Carlo Co Pelayo and Mrs. Marlyn Rino Pelayo and their minor children. Explain and update the status of the case. When is the immediate repatriation of their children and their belongings as requested by the family?
5. Roselie P. Pulido - almost a year unpaid salaries. The family is requesting for immediate repatriation. When is the expected date and time of repatriation as requested by the family?
6. Hasina Uddin - imprison for alleged theft. She is requesting for legal assistance. The family requesting for immediate repatriation.
7. Victor C. Enero - The family requesting for immediate repatriation. Explain and update the present status related to his medical operations and immediate repatriation as requested by her wife/children and relatives/parents.
8. OFW's who are inside Dammam Deportation Center: Mr. Efren Ramos; Reynor C. Rapinan; Japar S. Haron; Alberto Jimenez; Wilson Hari Jaro; Joseph A. Estrada. They are almost a year now in Dammam deportation center with no action from RP post, their families are requesting for immediate repatriation. When is the expected date & time for immediate repatriation? Explain and update their present condition in deportation center.
9. 40 OFWs all truck trailer drivers of Abdullah Askar Al-Hajri Transport Co. Ltd. in Dammam city are complaining and experiencing gross violations in their employment signed contracts, poor working conditions, no vacation leave, etc. They are requesting for immediate repatriation. The agency in the Philippines is Askar International Manpower, at Mabini St., Manila. Their families are requesting for immediate assistance and investigation and provide update.
10. OFW Gertrudes Sol and companion - total of (4) female runaway domestic helpers caught by the authorities in Al-Khobar checkpoint last week January 11, 2010 @ 5:00 pm. OFW Gertrudes Sol and companion currently at Al-khobar police Jail station, the four female OFW’s prefer to runaway due to severe maltreatment and labor abuses committed by their employer. They are requesting to fully conduct immediate proper procedure and investigation to protect the rights and welfare of our female OFW’s. Their families are requesting for immediate repatriation.
11. OFW Mr. Rodrigo I. Frias working as Engineer at PEPSICOLA (ABHA) ...Al-Quitani & Sons Khamiz Mushayt...KSA...He was been arrested last January 3, 2010 outside their staff house and now detained at ABHA Police Detention Jail. The family requesting for a fair investigation and legal assistance. The relatives, parents, wife/children asking for a fact-finding mission in ABHA to determine the whereabouts of Mr. Rodrigo Frias as their communication suddenly cut and unattended. Explain and provide update per request by the family.
12. OFW Elena Valdez - maltreated and abuse by employer and now at Dammam shelter. As per latest information from her relatives in the Philippine, she is complaining for almost a week now of no food inside the shelter. Requesting for immediate repatriation. Explain and update. Conduct full investigation and fact-finding the whereabouts of OFW Elena Valdez as requested by the family because communication was suddenly cut and unattended. Explain and provide update as per request by the family.
13. OFW Engineer Medardo A. Tabien - mysteriously death of OFW. The family requesting autopsy and police report and fully conduct a fair investigation resulting to his tragic death at Jubail Industrial area. The parent, wife and children/relatives are requesting for immediate repatriation of his remains. When is the expected date & time shipment of remains and belongings? His death benefits? Explain and update as requested by the relatives, parents, and children?
14. Jose Mendoza – Requesting for repatriation and compensation from his employer.
15. Numerous female runaways who are asking your legal assistance and protection.
• Jeddah Case:
1. OFW's who are remain stranded and distressed in Al-Mina Hajj Terminal - their families still requesting for unconditional immediate repatriation to be shouldered by our RP post/OWWA/ POAE/DFA/POLO and other government agencies in the Philippines.
2. OFW Anna Sandigan – A 57 year’s Old lady and runaway for 17 longtime years from his employer. During April had a mild stroke and becomes worse until last Friday need to bring in King Fahad Hospital by his Husband named Nasser Samson also a runaway for 23 Years.
All of the highlighted cases above are only some cases in which others are to be discussed during our case-to-case dialogue.

Again, we reiterate our request for a case to case dialogue and confirm us the date.

Your immediate response to this matter will be highly appreciated.

Defending OFWs rights and welfare,

Reference:

(Sgd) John Torres
Spokesperson: Migrante KSA
Mobile No: 0560631439
Email: john_torresrt@yahoo.com.ph

(Sgd) Rod Ramirez De Leon
Chairman Eastern Region
Mobile No: 0569117563
Email: yum_iivx@yahoo.com

(Sgd) Rodel Macalintal
Campaign & Media Liaison Officer
Mobile No: 0551977512
Email: rodelom@yahoo.com

Sgd) Marcial Abay Jr.
Rights and Welfare case Officer
Migrante – Al-Khobar, KSA
Mobile No.: 0507251372
Email: kato_yaba2000@ yahoo.com