Press Release
October 22, 2008

23 Cebuano OFWs arrive from Trinidad

Twenty-three (23) imprisoned Cebuano overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) arrived from Trinidad and Tobago today (4 p.m.) in Manila.

The OFWs left their employer in Tobago due to breach of contract and tried to transfer to another employer in Trinidad but upon arrival, they were detained by immigration authorities for allegedly holding fake documents reported by their first employer.

Villar's livelihood assistance for the OFWs' was handed to the returning workers at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport. They are set to fly to Cebu at 7:30 pm tonight.

The families of the OFWs earlier asked Villar's assistance for the immediate repatriation of their loved ones in Trinidad. The Office of Cebu Gov. Gwen Garcia paid for the cost of the OFWs' return tickets.

The Office of Villar formally wrote the DFA on Oct. 2 to seek immediate assistance on behalf of the OFWs and called up Philippine Honorary Consul in Trinidad and Tobago Dr. Marie Magno-Advani. On Oct. 16, the DFA informed Villar in a letter on the OFWs' arrival to the country today.

"Not only do we want to assure the safe return of our Visayan kababayan but we also want to know why and how their recruitment was arranged when there was already prior knowledge that a bogus employer awaited them abroad," Villar stressed.

On Sept. 22, Villar also led the repatriation of 23 distressed OFWs from Jordan, most of whom are sick, underage, and maltreated, as part of his continuing program to help distressed workers which he has started silently since his days as a budding entrepreneur 30 years ago.

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