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MANILA, Philippines (AFP) — Philippine officials are headed to Kuwait on Thursday to seek greater protection for migrant workers after a diplomatic row over the alleged mistreatment of Filipinos in the Gulf state. Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello told reporters Wednesday one of his deputies would lead the delegation, which is also due to stop in Saudia Arabia and Qatar to urge reforms. Topping the list are demands that Filipino workers be allowed to keep their cellphones and […]
By Meanne Corvera Eagle News Service Almost 200 Filipinos have died in Kuwait in the past few years. During the Senate labor committee’s hearing on Overseas Filipino Workers abuses, Overseas Workers Welfare Administration head Hans Leo Cacdac said of the 196 who were reported dead, 79 percent were “medical cases,” 7 percent were accidents, 11 percent were suicides, and 3 percent were unidentified cases. He said over 6,000 have also experienced abuse. According to Susan […]
(Eagle News) — Administrative charges will be filed against the three labor officials who reportedly did not take action on the report in 2017 that Overseas Filipino Worker Joanna Demafelis was missing. When asked during the Senate labor committee hearing on Wednesday if charges would be filed against labor attache Alejandro Padaid, assistant labor attache Lily Pearl Guerrero and welfare officer Sara Concepcion after they failed to act on the information given by Demafelis’ sister, […]
(Eagle News) – President Rodrigo Duterte said on Tuesday that the deployment ban on Filipino workers to Kuwait stands, but said he may consider lifting it if both governments would come up with a “complete agreement” that would ensure the safety and welfare of Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs). “Until I’m sure that everything…we’ll have to come up with an agreement that would be complete. Pass ports taken by the employer, no day-off, they are only […]
(Eagle News) — Kuwait has invited President Rodrigo Duterte anew following the imposition of a total ban on the deployment of Overseas Filipino Workers to the Middle Eastern country. Kuwait’s state-run KUNA news agency quoted Kuwait’s Deputy Foreign Minister Khaled al-Jarallah as saying the proposed visit was in March. It was unclear, however, if Duterte accepted the invitation, which comes after Kuwait’s Foreign Minister Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al-Sabah condemned Duterte’s statements lashing out at the […]
MANILA, Philippines (Eagle News) – President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday floated the possibility of extending the ban on the deployment of Overseas Filipino Workers to other countries. “The (deployment) ban will continue and it will extend to other countries. It will be difficult for them..Wala akong kaplano na ipadala kayo [OFW] doon tapos babuyin kayo. Hindi ko style ‘yan,” Duterte said in a speech during the founding anniversary celebration of the Chinese Filipino Business Club Inc. […]
ILOILO, Philippines (AFP) — More than a hundred relatives and supporters of a Filipina maid whose body was found stuffed in a freezer in Kuwait brandished banners demanding justice as her coffin was returned home on Saturday. The family of Joanna Demafelis openly wept as the white casket was unloaded at an airport cargo terminal in the central city of Iloilo. “Justice for Joanna D. Demafelis,” was emblazoned on banners and on T-shirts worn by the crowd […]
(Eagle News)– The body of Joanna Demafelis arrived in Iloilo on Saturday, days after she was found in a freezer in an abandoned apartment in Kuwait. The plane carrying Demafelis arrived around 6 a.m. She was welcomed by her loved ones, who couldn’t help but break down upon seeing her remains. Demafelis is slated to be brought to her hometown in Sara, where a two-week wake will be held. The Overseas Workers Welfare Administration said […]
(Eagle News)– The Department of Foreign Affairs on Friday said it had asked Kuwait for an extension of its amnesty program for Filipino workers illegally staying there. Foreign Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano said it had asked Kuwaiti Ambassador to the Philippines Saleh Ahmad Althwaikh for a three-month extension in a “candid, frank discussion” on Thursday. He said there were still 10,000 overstaying Filipinos in the Middle Eastern country who had to be brought back home. […]
Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said that Foreign Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano has been given marching orders to meet with the Kuwait ambassador to seek the Kuwaiti government’s cooperation in assuring the security of overseas Filipino workers in the Gulf country. “I was… tasked to inform the nation that the marching order [to] Secretary Cayetano is to ensure that Filipinos are protected in Kuwait. And Secretary Alan Cayetano was tasked to get a commitment from […]
MANILA, Philippines (Eagle News) — Dumating na sa bansa ang labi ni Joanna Demafelis, ang Overseas Filipino Workers na natagpuang patay sa loob ng isang freezer sa Kuwait. Pasado alas-10:00 kaninang umaga nang lumapag sa Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) terminal 1 ang eroplano ng Gulf Air Flight GF-154 lulan ang labi ni Demafelis. Agad namang ililipad ang bangkay patungo sa Sara, Iloilo kung saan naghihintay ang pamilya ni Joanna. Sinabi naman ni Presidential Spokesman […]
(Eagle News) — Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon said the total ban on the deployment of Overseas Filipino Workers to Kuwait was “necessary.” The Philippines, however, “must be prepared to handle the consequences” for trade relations. According to Drilon, although he “do(es) not know what the details of the trade relations between the two countries” are, “certainly, from (his) experience before, these accepting countries would resort to all kinds of pressure on the Philippines.” “We […]
