UPDATE: Migrante Partylist condemns in strongest terms the arrest and detention of stranded OFWs who staged a camp out protest today at the PHL Embassy in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
200 undocumented OFWs staged their protest today, 70 are women with 10 children, taking cue from the ongoing camp out protest being done by stranded OFWs at the Tent City in Jeddah. (Please see attached photos)
Like those at the Jeddah Tent City, the OFWs are also calling for free, immediate and mass repatriation by the Aquino government. Since the Tent City broke out, not one OFW has been repatriated by the Philippine government.
According to reports from Migrante-Riyadh, the OFWs were holding their peaceful protest outside the PHL post compound when Riyadh POLO Case Officer Abdullah Umpa arrived with the Saudi police.
“It was Umpa who pinpointed to the Saudi police who to arrest. Imbes na harapin ng gobyerno ang ating mga OFW sila pa mismo ang nagpaaresto sa kanila. Traydor ang gobyernong ito sa mismong mamamayan niya!” said Garry Martinez, Migrante Partylist 2nd Nominee and Migrante International Chairperson.
All those arrested are men and leaders of the OFWs, namely, Lyndon Salonga, Juan Carlos and Jon Jon de Vera. As of this posting, it is not yet known where the Saudi police took them.
The arrests came in the wake of the successful three-day Solidarity Campout held by families of stranded OFWs at the Tent City and promises declared by the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) to ensure the protection and welfare of stranded OFWs in light of the Saudi crackdowns.
“Ito ba ang hinihintay ng goberyong Aquino? Ang tuluyan nang mapahamak ang ating mga kababayan sa Saudi? Heads must roll, those responsible for their arrests should be held accountable,” Martinez said.
As of this posting, the OFWs are resolved to maintain their campout. More are expected to join the campout, according to the OFWs. Saudi police arrest stranded OFWs in Riyadh
Migrante Partylist condemns in strongest terms the arrest and detention of stranded OFWs who staged a campout protest today at the PH Embassy in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
200 undocumented OFWs staged their protest today, 70 are women with 10 children, taking cue from the ongoing campout protest being done by stranded OFWs at the Tent City in Jeddah. (Please see attached photos)
Like those at the Jeddah Tent City, the OFWs are also calling for free, immediate and mass repatriation by the Aquino government. Since the Tent City broke out, not one OFW has been repatriated by the Philippine government.
According to reports from Migrante-Riyadh, the OFWs were holding their peaceful protest outside the PH post compound when Riyadh POLO Case Officer Abdullah Umpa arrived with the Saudi police.
“It was Umpa who pinpointed to the Saudi police who to arrest. Imbes na harapin ng gobyerno ang ating mga OFW sila pa mismo ang nagpaaresto sa kanila. Traydor ang gobyernong ito sa mismong mamamayan niya!” said Garry Martinez, Migrante Partylist 2nd Nominee and Migrante International Chairperson.
All those arrested are men and leaders of the OFWs, namely, Lyndon Salonga, Juan Carlos and Jon Jon de Vera. As of this posting, it is not yet known where the Saudi police took them.
The arrests came in the wake of the successful three-day Solidarity Campout held by families of stranded OFWs at the Tent City and promises declared by the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) to ensure the protection and welfare of stranded OFWs in light of the Saudi crackdowns.
“Ito ba ang hinihintay ng goberyong Aquino? Ang tuluyan nang mapahamak ang ating mga kababayan sa Saudi? Heads must roll, those responsible for their arrests should be held accountable,” Martinez said.
As of this posting, the OFWs are resolved to maintain their campout. More are expected to join the campout, according to the OFWs.
Earlier, Migrants group said two stranded OFW were arrested by Saudi police in Riyadh.
“We just received reports from our Migrante colleagues in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia that two of the stranded OFWs who are now in front of the Philippine Overseas Labor Office and Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (POLO-OWWA) compound inside the Diplomatic Quarters (DQ) were nabbed by Saudi police,” according to John Leonard Monterona , Vice chairperson, Migrante #96 party-list group.
Monterona identified the two as only Mr. Lyndon and Juan Carlos.
“We are still trying to get their full name and other details,” he said.
At around 10:00 a.m. Saudi time, about 200 stranded OFWs, mostly women with children, went to POLO-OWWA offices to seek a dialog with PH embassy and labor officials to attend on their repatriation.
“We call on PH” Ambassador to KSA Ezzadin Tago to face and talk to the stranded OFWs. Amb. Tago should listen to their pleas for their repatriation. We would like to remind Amb. Tago that as per our April 30 dialog with DFA sec. Del Rosario, the good secretary committed to us that the PH embassy will provide all the needed assistance to all stranded OFWs who are seeking govt. assistance for repatriation.
“We call on DFA Sec. Del Rosario to instruct embassy officials, accordingly.
“We also call on the Saudi government to respect the rights of the stranded Filipino workers who are only seeking a peaceful dialog with PHL embassy and labor officials,” Monterona said.