MANILA (Mindanao Examiner / Sept. 29, 2012) – Saying that overseas Filipino workers are also likely target of the folly of the Cybercrime Law, the migrants’ right group Migrante-Middle East on Saturday called on fellow OFWs around the world to register their strong opposition against the measure signed into law by President Benigno Aquino.
“Noting that many OFWs are fond users of various social networking sites, it is not farfetched that some of them will be unfairly or maliciously charge courtesy of Cybercrime Law,” John Leonard Monterona, Migrante-Middle East regional coordinator, said in a statement sent to the regional newspaper Mindanao Examiner.
For instance, OFW-activists are using social networking sites as a medium to air their legitimate grievances against the government or any of its agencies and officials, he said.
“OFWs postings in social networking are indeed very critical to the government especially if it pertains to OFWs rights and welfare and relevant issues to the sector,” Monterona said, citing as an example the proposal by lawmaker to increase their OWWA membership premium from $25 to $50.
OWWA refers to the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration, an attached agency of the Department of Labor and Employment.
“Another OFW issue at hand is the 150% Philippine Health Insurance premium hike, where our fellow OFWs are actively and vocally criticizing the Aquino govt. and Philhealth board in what we say illegal, unjustified hike on OFWs health premium. May hibo pa ng martial law ang Cybercrime law na eto. Kaya dapat tutulan at hindi na sana pa isina-batas,” Monterona said.
“Let us register our opposition in various and peaceful ways to tell these martial law-admirer legislators that we will defend our constitutional right to freedom of expression. Let us better maximize the social networking sites by calling the junking or scrapping of the Cybercrime law,” he said.
20