MANILA (Mindanao Examiner / Jan. 25, 2013) – Four Filipino workers who survived a deadly hostage crisis in Algeria have accused Philippine Embassy officials of incompetence, saying they were not assisted and managed to return home through the help of their Japanese employer.
The four workers – Mario Catiis, Crisostomo Carabia, Larry Villariza and Ramon Tortosa – said their employer facilitated their repatriation.
Shortly after their arrival, government people offered assistance to facilitate and hasten immigration papers, but all four declined them and went through the normal process without VIP treatment.
A Filipino migrants’ rights group called Migrante-Middle East asked the Philippine government to recall and investigate embassy officials in Algeria following complaints by the Filipino workers.
“The refusal of our 4 fellow OFWs who were victim of the Algeria hostage siege to decline all the offers for VIP treatment by Immigration and customs officers upon their arrival at NAIA was an act of protest,” John Leonard Monterona, Migrante-Middle East regional coordinator, said in a statement to the Mindanao Examiner.
Monterona said their fellow OFWs were really upset because of the treatment and incompetence of embassy officials in Algeria who were supposed to provide them all the necessary assistance after their horrific experience.
“This is not an isolated case. Every time our fellow OFWs in dire need of assistance from our PH officials abroad, we often heard allegations that they were not properly attended and given assistance. This is criminal neglect, plain and simple,” Monterona said.
Monterona said his group will support and encourage the four OFWs to issue a signed affidavit and formally lodge a complaint against the embassy officials who were accused of incompetence.
“A copy of their complaint must be sent to President Aquino, whom we think are very much aware of the poor records of his embassy officials abroad in terms of providing assistance to distress, abused, and OFWs victims in general. He must act on this swiftly,” Monterona said.
“Philippine diplomatic missions wantonly neglect protection of rights and promotion of the Filipino workers abroad that the government hails as modern heroes because of the remittances they sent back home, but in reality are modern slaves, so to speak, in foreign countries,” he added.
20