Press Release
September 3, 2014

JINGGOY SEEKS PROBE ON ALLEGED MISTREATMENT
OF OFWS FROM LIBYA

Senator Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada is seeking an investigation on the alleged mistreatment of overseas Filipino workers repatriated out of war-torn Libya.

This is contained in Proposed Senate Resolution No. 870 filed last Wednesday, August 27.

As tension and violence escalated in Libya, the Philippine government through the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) and the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) implemented a mandatory repatriation plan on the estimated 13,000 nationals living and working in the area.

The government also hired a ship to repatriate en masse Filipino workers who availed of the evacuation program from Libyan port cities of Benghazi and Mistrata. They were ferried to island country of Malta and then flown back to the Philippines.

"Unfortunately there were news reports that the government allegedly failed to provide humane and proper accommodation to repatriated OFWs who boarded the government chartered Maltese ship, M/S Bridge," the resolution reads.

The resolution cited various complaints arising from the incident including: that Labor Attaché to Libya Melchor Dizon allowed the OFWs to sleep on the cabin floor; that repatriated Filipino workers suffered discriminatory treatment as against foreign passengers onboard the ship; overcrowding; and inadequate provision of food and water.

The resolution further wishes to look into the issue of misallocation and injudicious spending of government resources considering the reported cost of hiring the ship and food and water expenses which amounted to $1.8 million (78.48 million pesos*) for 774 repatriated OFWs.

"The inquiry is directed towards adopting more appropriate and effective policies and guidelines on the repatriation program as well as provide for possible monetary and non-monetary assistance to the OFWs and the affected families," Sen. Estrada said.

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