News Release - July 18, 2005
References: Connie Bragas-Regalado, Chairperson, 0927-2157392
Vince Borneo, Information Officer, 0927-7968198

In Oust Gloria protest-dialogue
MIGRANTE official, members beaten in Philippine Consulate in Jeddah

"This incident shows how the Macapagal-Arroyo administration treats us overseas Filipinos. This further adds to our reasons why we want Gloria to be ousted."

Thus declared an angry Connie Bragas-Regalado, Chair of the MIGRANTE Sectoral Party and one of the spokespersons of the OUTRAGE alliance (Overseas Filipinos, Families and Advocates: Unite and Rise to Oust Gloria) on the sufferings inflicted by Philippine Consulate officials in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia yesterday afternoon.

Reports from Jeddah detailed that Migrante deputy secretary general Leo Legaspi, Irene Mahinay, Outrage-Jeddah spokesperson, Jackiline Pakpakin and Jessica Hapos suffered various injuries as they were beaten by Consulate officials at 3:00 pm yesterday.

"Legaspi suffered a damaged ear, Pakpakin a toe-nail forcibly removed, Hapos and Mahinay blows to the stomach. More than 30 Outrage and Migrante members were going to have an open picket-dialogue with Philippine Consul General Pendosina Lomondot to seek updates on their requests for repatriation and to express their demand for the resignation or ouster of Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. Our officials and members only wanted to better their plight and exercise their freedom of expression. Consulate officials instead gave them political harassment," Bragas-Regalado said.

The 30 stranded women OFWs and sheltered in the OWWA Center in Jeddah are under custody of the OWWA.

"While they were taking out their placards bearing oust Gloria calls, POLO case officers Yusof and Anwar Ampang, together with Atong and Ali Aguam, two newly-hired security guards, started throwing punches and blows to Legaspi, also a former chairperson of Migrante International. The others got injured in trying to protect Legaspi by shielding him and parrying the blows of these Consulate officials," Bragas-Regalado said.

Migrante immediately called for the immediate dismissal of Philippine Labor officers Yusof, Ampang, and guards Atong and Aguam.

"These officials do not serve the interests and welfare of OFWs in Jeddah. They exhibit the type of leadership and treatment distressed OFWs get under Philippine Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Bahnarim Guinomla and the bogus President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. They must be ousted," Bragas-Regalado said.

"These types of people should be booted out of the government service and appropriately charged. They only add to our reasons to oust Macapagal-Arroyo and push for a transition council to effect massive reforms in the diplomatic corps, foreign posts and the advancement of our rights, welfare and aspirations," she concluded. #

for more articles, click [here]