At least 42 Filipino workers in deathrow abroad

At least 42 Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) face possible beheading while thousands others are languishing in various jails abroad.

Migrante International, a militant organization of OFWs made the disclosure yesterday while expressing fear more Filipinos will become victims of the government "stay abroad" policy.

Leo Legaspi, Migrante chair said, there are currently 36 Filipinos facing the death penalty in Saudi Arabia and six more in Malaysia.

Based on information they have gathered, Legaspi added that 44 Filipina domestic helpers were sexually assaulted in Hong Kong last year.

"The question now is who will be the next victim?" Legaspi asked. He lamented that the government could not provide the necessary protection for the 2,500 OFWs leaving the country daily to work abroad.

Meanwhile, two years of imprisonment at the United Arab Emirates (UAE) for defending herself against her would-be rapist have ended for a domestic helper.

A teary-eyed Mary Jane Ramos, 21, arrived at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Wednesday night. First Gentleman Mike Arroyo, who had launched a fund-raising drive for Ramos, led government officials and her husband and son in welcoming her.

Ramos left for the United Arab Emirates on Feb. 23, 1999 to work as a maid for Mohamed Al-Shamsi. Two days later, a drunken Al-Shamsi tried to rape Ramos. In defending herself, Ramos stabbed her employer dead with a knife.

The UAE High Court found Ramos guilty and sentenced her to two years imprisonment and to pay 150,000 dirhams (P2.1 million) in damages to the victim’s family.

On July 14, Mr. Arroyo, along with officials of the Overseas Workers’ Welfare Administration (OWWA), launched the "Save Mary Jane Ramos Fund Raising Drive" in Baguio City.

The project raised P2 million for Ramos’ release.

Those who donated for the "blood money" were the Rotary Club of Makati, Eugene Yu, Ernie Salas, Mr. and Mrs. Robert Estacio, Taim Tsai Tsui East, Toshiyuki Sasai, Philip Beltran, the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp., the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office, and several others.

However, Migrante International spoiled the prepared VIP treatment for Ramos when it held "hostage" her father to force the domestic helper to go with them first for a briefing before she is brought to Malacañang.

The First Gentleman and Overseas Workers Welfare Administrator Wilhelm Soriano had lined up several special treats for Ramos like billeting her and her family at a five-star hotel in Makati so that the returning domestic helper could be with them, and offering her a job here.

Members of the Migrante International, however, prevented Mary Jane from enjoying the special treatment lined up for her by refusing to "free" her father, Pedro, unless she went with them first. — With Rey Arquiza