Gary Martinez injured during 4th SONA maxi.protest march

Aquino’s mid-term, worst years for OFWs

Read more : http://migranteinternational.org/?p=3232

Gary Martinez was injured in his left arm during the police assault against the protesters during Bayan maxi-protest march versus the fourth Aquino SONA. He is seen in the picture on the stage with the survivors of the Jeddah Tent City

Migrante’s Garry Martinez, nursing an injured arm from the police assault, speaks  during the program. (Macky Macaspac)

According to Garry Martinez, Migrante International chairperson, under Aquino’s three years, forced migration worsened, labor export intensified and services and protection of migrant workers became more dismal.

“OFWs around the world are outraged by Aquino’s failure to curb forced migration and its implementation of a more aggressive and unapologetic labor export policy. In the past three years, the situation of OFWs has deteriorated despite Aquino’s declarations of an improved economy, a so-called ‘reverse migration’ phenomenon and an alleged more systematic approach to provide welfare and services for OFWs in distress,” Martinez said.

Martinez said that these are evident in the record-high increase in the number of cases their organization has handled in the past three years. “From 1,500 cases yearly before Aquino assumed power in 2010, the number of cases we have documented and facilitated shot up to 4,500 by the end of 2011, and 5,000 by the end of 2012. This does not yet include cases handled independently by our chapters abroad,” he said.

He cited as an example the significant rise in number of victims of crackdowns and criminalization of undocumented OFWs, namely in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Malaysia, Macau, Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong in the United States and Canada. “Majority are victims of human traffickers and illegal recruiters, some in connivance with lending companies and officials in government, but none so far have been prosecuted or held accountable by the Aquino government. Erring and abusive officials continue to hold office despite overwhelming protests and testimonies from distressed OFWs. ”

The migrant leader also said that there is a significant rise in the number of jailed OFWs and OFWs on death row. “For the first time in history, five of our kababayans have been executed abroad, and in just a span of three years. It’s incredible, it’s horrible.”

“Since Aquino took his oath it has been especially more gruelling for OFWs and their families. He specifically promised to give special attention to OFWs in his inaugural speech but what we have experienced is the complete opposite. Aquino’s mid-term in office were the worst years for OFWs and their families, and policy-wise, there are no indications that things will get better in the next three years,” he said.

In protest, OFWs around the world launched simultaneous protest activities to participate in the People’s SONA (State of the Nation Address).

Migrante chapters in different parts of the world led members, other migrant organizations and Filipino communities in Saudi Arabia, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Japan, South Korea, United Arab Emirates, Macau, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Italy, Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Netherlands, Switzerland, United Kingdom and the United States in marking President Benigno Aquino III’s third SONA with protests in their respective countries.

Here at the home front, returned OFWs from Saudi, families of stranded OFWs and victims of crackdowns abroad and families of other OFWs in distress and OFW communities joined the BAYAN-led march towards Batasan.