Pardoned OFW set to come home

Convicted domestic helper Sarah Dematera and 200 other distressed overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) are coming home soon from various countries in the Middle East.

Labor Secretary Arturo Brion said labor officials are now working on the immediate repatriation of Dematera, who was recently pardoned and spared execution in Saudi Arabia.

"Our officials in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia are processing the exit documentation of Dematera and we expect her to be home today," Brion said in an interview.

He added that the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) is also looking forward to the repatriation of at least 200 distressed OFWs from several countries in the Middle East.

"We are now working out the repatriation of our stranded Filipino workers from Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, Kuwait and other Middle East countries," Brion said.

He also said majority of those who are scheduled for repatriation are Filipino workers who ran away from their employers and those who have completed prison terms for minor offenses.

According to Brion, the DOLE is now preparing reintegration services for the returning workers that will enable them to find employment or look for other sources of livelihood.

Brion said the DOLE’s reintegration center will provide the returning OFWs with skills training and counseling.