Jailed OFWs in KSA hit Phl embassy over slow action on release
PhilStar – Tue, Apr 26, 2011 12:44 PM PHTMANILA, Philippines - Jailed overseas Filipinos workers in Saudi Arabia have expressed dismay over the snail-paced action by the Philippine embassy on their release and repatriation in connection with the royal pardon issued last February.
Migrante-Middle East regional coordinator John Monterona said they have been receiving texts messages and calls from these OFWs, saying they have already served their sentences but embassy officials have not started processing their release.
"Gusto na ho naming lumaya. Hirap na ho kami dito at saka hirap na din ang aming pamilya sa Pilipinas. Nakakasama ho ng loob dahil mga ibang lahi, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, India at iba pa, maraming na-basamat (clearance) na sa kanila, bakit ho kami hanggang ngayon walang pang katiyakan ang paglaya?" Monterona said quoting one of the text messages he got from a jailed OFW.
Monterona said there are over 200 OFWs at the Malaz central jail, while an undisclosed numbers of OFWs are detained at the Al-Hair jail.
"I could well understand the feeling of disappointment among these OFW inmates who have claimed they have already completed their respective jail term. Even without the granting of royal pardon, they should be released and repatriated based on the facts that they have successfully completed their jail term," he said.
Monterona added that the granting of royal pardon raises hopes among the OFW inmates that they will be freed and be re-united with their families in the Philippines. - By Dennis Carcamo (Philstar News Service, www.philstar.com)
Reposted From Dennis Carcamo of Philstar.com
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