DAVAO CITY (Mindanao Examiner / Nov. 14, 2011) – Filipino migrant workers and their families gathered in Davao City in the southern Philippines to protest anti-migrants policies and programs of President Benigno Aquino.
The activity discussed the current status of undocumented migrants, issues on human trafficking, abandoned families and mysterious deaths of overseas Filipino workers.
In a mini-production play held at the People’s Park, the group called Migrante depicted the plight of the documented and undocumented Filipino workers abroad. It was followed by a rally to the Rizal Park where marchers lighted a hundred torches to dramatize and symbolize their protest versus force migration and other issues.
Bonessa Culminas, chairperson of Migrante-Davao, said significant number cases of abuses of Filipino workers, many from Mindanao, remain unresolved.
“We are the milking cows of the government, our remittances, taxes and many fees are being siphoned by the government but in times of crisis, the intervention of the government is unreachable,” she said.
Indonesia and the Philippines are among the top countries that export labor force. Top destinations for migrant workers are in the Middle East countries, Europe, Canada and United States.
Lito Estrera, vice chairperson of Migrante-Davao, said: “It is high time to speak versus force migration and various cases of abuse versus migrants. We are in solidarity with the rest of migrants and their families all over the country and worldwide. All the government worldwide will be facing the wrath of the oppressed migrants and workers, this as the global crisis becomes worst and worsens every year.”
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