Press statements of Senator Loren Legarda

On the Failon incident

What befell the Failon family was a tragedy no matter what the circumstances were that led to it. Let us pray for the recovery of Ted Failon's wife and for our Lord to give her loved ones, especially the Failon children, strength in this time of their great trial and tribulation.

The police has to do its job over the incident as the ends of justice has to be served wherever it may lead. Nonetheless, the rights of everyone should be respected and the rule of law must prevail in determining the truth.

On 137 stranded drivers in Dubai

The outpouring of support - material, financial and moral - to the 137 Filipino drivers victimized by illegal recruiters in Dubai renews our faith in the Filipino. That other Filipino workers based in the UAE had come to their succor is indeed heartwarming.

Government must once and for all crack the whip on illegal recruiters to stop the continuing victimization of our workers abroad. It must prosecute to the fullest extent of the law those who duped the unfortunate drivers, and not just go through the motions of initiating a case against them.

OFWs serve as a driving force of our economy and it's time the government stops paying this sector mere lip-service. The Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) and the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration are coming short of their mandate to protect OFWs. Their officials must shape up or ship out.

On teachers seeking P9,000 pay hike

Public school teachers deserve salary increases that would allow their families to live comfortably, more so since their present salary levels had been hit by inflation and the economic downturn. I support the clamor of teachers' groups for a P9,000 increase in their wages, although the P6,000 increase which government seems ready to give them should also be considered.

The plight of public school teachers, who generally earn much less than their private school counterparts, should also be looked into by government amidst charges that many of them get starvation pay not commensurate to their skills, the valuable role they play in molding the youth, and their sacrifices.