JUMPING FROM THE KETTLE INTO THE FIRE

JUMPING FROM THE KETTLE INTO THE FIRE                                   By Belarmino Dabalos Saguing,                                                                                                      Email: bdsaguing@gmail.com, Mobile +39 3356880613

A former overseas Filipino worker in Saudi Arabia may shed more light on the alleged "sexploitation" of overseas Filipino workers in some Philippine embassies and consulates by coming out with her tale.

A former OFW (name withheld) related her ordeal, where the driver of a labor attache allegedly tried to molest her, occurred June 2 last year at a shelter for distressed OFWs in Saudi Arabia. She escaped from her abusive employer and went to the shelter for distressed OFWs.

At the time, she said she was already warned by other OFWs to be wary of the driver. She said she tried to fight off the driver when he tried to attack her.

She said the driver tried to molest her, damaging her clothes in the process. She also said she suffered injuries while trying to fight off the driver. The driver stopped his assault when he heard someone had arrived at the embassy and was approaching the office.

  

"Umalis ako sa amo ko para hindi ako mapahamak. Ngayon ganoon na naman ang mangyayari sa akin. At sa loob pa ng ating embahada doon pa ako mapapahamak," the OFW added.

The OFW said the attache tried to contact her and offered her money to keep quiet. She said she accepted the money but still lodged a complaint before the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration.

However, she lamented there had been no progress in the investigation into her complaint.

Philippine officials in Manila were unaware of it until very recently. The alleged sexual exploitation of Filipino workers in the Middle East at the hands of Philippine embassy and labor staff seemed to have been perpetrated in uttermost secrecy. Vice President Jejomar Binay on Friday said he too didn't know anything about the alleged prostitution rings — despite the purported knowledge of senior foreign officials — prior to media reports on them. Binay called on to OFW organizations to report such issues so that these will be acted on.

Also, the repatriation of distressed migrant workers may have purposely delayed in Philippine foreign posts may be related to the “sexploitation business” of embassy staff and officials. There are no reason for the embassies and consulates of the Philippines to delay the repatriation processes which is a contra tendency compared with their  counterparts in other labor exporting countries who speeded the repatration of their nationals.

Rep. Luz Ilagan of Gabriela remarked "More importantly this exposé should pave the way for efficient delivery of services to distressed OFWs. Kung tutuusin, bukod sa mga labor at consulate officials na sangkot sa sex-for-ticket operations, may pananagutan din ang mga nagpapalala sa sitwasyong kinalalagyan ng mga OFWs,” 

It must be recalled that the case of  Philippine Ambassador to Kuwait Shulan Primavera is a recent example of a high ranking Embassy official  molesting a distressed OFW. Incidents of sexual abuses against distressed OFWs by Embassy or consular staffs and officials has been floating around for years among the OFWs causing the distrust of many with regard to the Embassies everywhere. It cannot be true that the higher embassy echelons has no knowledge of the cases. They have condoned it even if indirectly by ignoring it and keeping it under wraps for years making them accessory to this hyenous crime.

We call on our brother and sister OFWs to help curve the problem of sexploitation by reporting cases of indecent acts by embassy or consular staffs and officials. It may be very hard because the predators cover each otherv for protection of their business and careers. But it can be done by reporting it to organizations and associations advocating OFW rigths.

CONDEMN SEX EXPLOITATION IN PHILIPPINE EMBASSIES AND CONSULATES!!!

MAKE ALL ERRING STAFFS  AND OFFICIALS ACCOUNTABLE FOR THEIR CRIMES!!!

END LABOR EXPORTATION POLICY BY CREATING JOBS AT HOME!!!