When abroad, Filipinos cannot expect assistance from Philippine Embassies.

When abroad, Filipinos cannot expect assistance from Philippine Embassies.

News item:

According to reports from Migrante-Riyadh, the OFWs were holding their peaceful protest outside the PH post compound when Riyadh POLO Case Officer Abdullah Umpa arrived with Saudi police. “It was Umpa who pinpointed to the Saudi police who to arrest. Imbes na harapin ng gobyerno ang ating mga OFW sila pa mismo ang nagpaaresto sa kanila. Traydor ang gobyernong ito sa mismong mamamayan niya!” said Garry Martinez, Migrante Partylist 2^ndNominee and Migrante International Chairperson.

Those arrested are leaders of the OFWs, namely, Lyndon Salonga, Juan Carlos and Jon Jon de Vera. As of 12:30pm yesterday, KSA time, the three OFWs have been released.

DOLE

In a phone conversation with Salonga, he recounted how they were deposited into a car then Saudi police, together with PH authorities, harassed and threatened them while they drove around. They were eventually dropped off at an area far from the campout site.

The arrests came in the wake of the successful three-day Solidarity Campout held by families of stranded OFWs at the Tent City and promises declared by the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) to ensure the protection and welfare of stranded OFWs in light of the Saudi crackdowns.

OWWA

“Ito ba ang hinihintay ng goberyong Aquino? Ang tuluyan nang mapahamak ang ating mga kababayan sa Saudi? Heads must roll, those responsible for the arrests and harassment should be held accountable,” Martinez said.

Martinez said that as of 3:00pm yesterday, KSA time, at least 66 OFWs were able to enter the compound of the PH Embassy and demanded a dialogue with PH Ambassador to Saudi Ezzedin Tago. Inside the PH Embassy compound, they said that “they were being harassed and threatened every hour by PH embassy officials”.

Musing on the news, it appears that the attitude of displayed by the Governments representatives in Riyadh has the telltale characteristic of the Philippine Government itself- vindictiveness. Criticize their mistake and they strike back. Treacherously and below the belt. Protest on their wrong-doings and they arrest you on some concocted false charges. Ask for changes and you are accused of being a red.

I pray to God I am mistaken, but the signs are written on the wall. The government is also exporting their vices to their embassies in foreign lands.

God help us all. When in a foreign land, we do not have a place in which to bring our woes. We are alone.