News Release - August 27, 2005
References:
Connie Bragas-Regalado, Migrante International Chairperson;  0927-2157392
Leo Legaspi, Stranded OFW
and Migrante Sectoral Party Deputy Secretary General, 0916-7297504
 
Stranded OFWs from KSA slam DFA, Arroyo
 
For forty-nine OFWs stranded in Saudi Arabia, their hellish journey to the Kingdom ended this morning with their arrival at NAIA aboard Saudia Airlines.  Among the OFWs on the flight is Leo Legaspi, who was beaten by RP Consul officials in Jeddah, during a dialogue last July on the plight of stranded workers wherein Leo and the others also expressed their demand for Gloria's ouster.
 
“Injustice against OFWs under Arroyo is taking new heights.  After being abused by employers and beaten by RP Consulate officials, we even had to endure being imprisoned for two weeks before being repatriated.  Increasingly, the term ‘bagong bayani' is a bitter force since in reality, we are treated as ‘bagong alipin' – both by foreign employers, governments and the Arroyo administration.  While we are happy to be home, hundreds of other stranded OFWs remain in Saudi Arabia and around the world,”  said Leo Legaspi, who is also the Deputy Secretary General of the progressive Migrante Sectoral Party during a press conference held in Quezon City upon his groups arrival in the Philippines .
 
“While their nightmare in Saudi Arabia may have ended, their struggle for justice continues in the Philippines .  Many of these OFWs became stranded after running away from employers because of physical and verbal abuse, non payment of wages and horrendous working conditions,”  said Connie Bragas-Regalado, Chairperson of Migrante International, a militant alliance of groups composed of overseas Filipino and families.
 
“For Leo and the others who were mauled inside the RP Jeddah consulate, we demand the immediate recall and ouster of the consulate officials involved.  Not only are these officials criminally negligent when it comes to protecting OFWs against employers who violate their rights – they themselves are the human rights violators,”  added Bragas-Regalado.
 
According to Migrante, there are more than 300 OFWs stranded in Jeddah with approximately 500 across Saudi Arabia .
 
Justice for OFW ambushed in Iraq
 
Migrante International also reiterated their call for Arroyo's immediate withdrawal of support to the US ' so-called war on terror in Iraq and around the world.
 
“The death of Federico Samson and the injuries of two others are added proof that OFWs are among those in the cross-hairs of the US ' wars of aggression,”  said Bragas-Regalado.
 
According to Migrante, 6 OFWs have already died in Iraq , at least 17 injured and 3 held hostage, including Angelito Nayan in Afghanistan .
 
For Migrante International and the Migrante Sectoral Party, Leo's homecoming and the ambush of the OFW engineer in Iraq , including the fake President Macapagal-Arroyo's upcoming trips to Saudi Arabia and New York are among the urgent issues their groups tackled during a national consultation with Migrante leaders that ends today.
 
“Her trips to any country abroad will not do anything to legitimize her fake presidency and cover up her anti-migrant and anti-people government,” Bragas-Regalado ended. #

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