Duterte vows to stop abuses vs OFWs

MANILA, Philippines — President Duterte on Saturday met with a Filipina who was abused in Saudi Arabia and assured her that his administration is working to stop the maltreatment of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in the Middle East.

In a statement, Malacañang said Duterte met Pahima Alagasi, the 26-year-old native of Pikit town in North Cotabato who was scalded with boiling water by the mother of her employer in 2013, and some of her family members.

Alagasi suffered second-degree burns on her neck, thighs and a large part of her back. The incident led to a four-year legal battle against her employers. She returned to the country only last week after Duterte presented her case to Saudi Prince and Interior Minister Abdulaziz bin Saud bin Naif during an official visit to Malacañang last March 19.

Duterte assured Alagasi that he would do his best to stop the abuses against OFWs. Their meeting came two days after the President announced he would travel to Kuwait to witness the signing of an agreement that would protect overseas Filipino workers (OFWs).

The Philippines and Kuwait negotiated an agreement after Duterte implemented a ban on the dispatch of OFWs to Kuwait as complaints of maltreatment toward Filipino workers surfaced. Labor officials have said that the deployment ban would remain until an agreement to improve the working conditions of Filipinos is signed.

“President Duterte underscored that it is the interest of the Philippines to uphold the welfare and well-being of Filipino workers,” the Palace statement said.

While saying he could not blame OFWs if they had to work abroad for their families, Duterte reminded them to be careful because the culture and laws of their host countries are different from that of the Philippines.

He also urged Filipino Muslims who are in the Islamic states to help protect the human dignity of their countrymen.

Alagasi thanked the Philippine government for helping her with the case. She said she was also grateful to former Saudi Crown Prince Nayef bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, who had approved her final exit from the kingdom.

The Department of Foreign Affairs gave Alagasi P50,000 in cash assistance. The Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) also provided her two children scholarships up to college.

Special Assistant to the President Christopher Go said the government is doing everything it can to help the OFWs “be it a legal matter or labor and employer-related.”

“As we have always been saying, the gates of Malacañang are always open and the ears of government officials will always listen to whatever problems our fellow Filipinos are experiencing,” Go added.

Meanwhile, recruitment agencies in the country will meet next week to come up with recommendations and policy programs to address the plight of OFWs in Saudi Arabia.

Imee Enriquez, president of the Philippine Recruitment Agencies Accredited to Saudi Arabia (PRAASA), said members would identify the OFW concerns and come up with a unified position on measures that will enhance the safety and protection of domestic workers in the Gulf state.

She said a joint Philippine-Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Industry Conference on the Welfare and Protection of OFWs might also be organized.

She added that PRAASA, which is one of the biggest groups of recruitment agencies in the country, would also consult with officials of the departments of Foreign Affairs and of Labor and Employment, OWWA, and the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA).

“Our aim is to present to concerned government agencies the steps being undertaken by recruitment agencies in the country and the Saudi private recruitment agencies to ensure that OFWs are safe and protected in Saudi Arabia,” Enriquez said.

Philippine Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Adnan Villaluna Alonto has been invited to speak at the conference, set from April 22 to 24 at Subic Bay Travellers Hotel and Events Place in Olongapo City, Zambales. – With Edith Regalado, Pia Lee-Brago