Filipino domestic workers are set to protest the mandatory insurance being imposed on them by the Philippine government. According to United Filipinos in Hong Kong (UNIFIL-MIGRANTE-HK) chair Dolores Balladares, this new imposition is merely a money-making scheme.

‘The Philippine government has yet again thought up of a new way to extort from us through the mandatory insurance. They are not satisfied with all the fees they have been overcharging us and is desperate to collect some more at the expense of overseas Filipino workers,’ Balladares said.

Balladares relayed that officially, the mandatory insurance will be paid for by the employer per contract. ‘The insurance will be a burden to employers and is actually redundant as our employers already have purchased insurance for us. This makes the new insurance unneccessary.’

As such, Balladares remarked that such new scheme may create friction between employers and the domestic workers. In the end, it may most probably mean that the domestic workers will be the one to shoulder the payment as employers already paid for the insurance under Hong Kong policies.

“In truth, the Philippine government does not care who will finally pay for the insurance as its only concern now is how to accumulate the largest fund at the soonest possible time. With Philippine elections nearing, funds become a necessity that may come from the public coffers or contributions from businesses including companies that may benefit from this compulsory insurance. As usual, the convenient cash cows are the Filipino overseas workers whose vulnerability is exploited by the Philippines for its money-making schemes,” said Balladares.

To show opposition, the group will lead a protest march to the Philippine consulate on Sunday, January 27, at 2PM. They call on all OFWs and even employers who oppose the new fee to join the protest.

“Show our rage. We demand for the revocation of the mandatory insurance,” Balladares Pelaez ended.###

Prepared by Migrante International Secretariat

“Boldly expand our reach and lead the struggle of overseas Filipinos and their families to oust Duterte!”

United in this theme, Migrante International successfully held its 8th Congress in Manila Philippines from December 15 to 17, 2018.

The three-day event was attended by 133 participants, 60 of whom are delegates representing 16 countries and territories namely: USA, Canada, United Kingdom, Italy, Belgium, Switzerland, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Hongkong, Macau, Taiwan, Korea, Australia, New Zealand, Japan and the Philippines.

Along with them were 6 global council members representing the USA, Canada, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Middle East and the Philippines. Major partners like SANDIGAN or Samahan ng mga Domestic Workers sa Gitnang Silangan, St. John Neumann Migrants Center and Compass PH were likewise in attendance as observers.

The gathering cemented Migrante International’s status as the world’s leading international alliance of progressive Filipino organizations, federations, institution and alliances based overseas and in the country fighting for the rights and welfare of our dear compatriots and their beloved families while actively contributing to the struggle for national democracy and liberation.

Delegates were made aware of the significant timing of the event since it was held at the back of the recently concluded Intergovernmental GCM (Global Compact for Migration) Conference in Morocco where 164 UN member states including the Philippines adopted the agreement. Migrante International shattered the government-held myth on migration as tool for development. The 8th Congress likewise served as a major build-up event for the December 18 International Migrants Day which was observed by Migrante members around the world.

Importantly, leaders and representatives of OFW communities viewed the event as their opportunity to hand down their final verdict on President Rodrigo Duterte as he approaches the latter leg of his term.

Opening the 8th Congress with a welcome address was Garry Martinez, outgoing chairperson of Migrante International. In his opening remarks, he pointed the delegates to the great challenges facing Filipino migrants as they struggle against the tyrannical attacks perpetrated by the US-Duterte regime.

Julie de Lima, an NDFP peace panel member and a migrant community leader herself delivered the keynote speech buoying the member organizations to expand and consolidate Migrante International and strengthen the international campaign to oust the US-Duterte regime. In her statement, she hailed Migrante International for being a worldwide presence in upholding the rights and welfare of Filipino migrants while doing the same for their families left behind back home. The history of struggle among compatriots for national liberation and democracy was likewise recounted vis-a-vis with how one US-controlled regime to another perpetuated the roots of forced migration and the labor export program.

In exposing the crimes of the US-Duterte regime, Julie de Lima bid Migrante to work further by reaching out to the people, state and private institutions as well as in various international bodies and formations in host countries. She underlined the necessity of placing the organizing work among seafarers as a top concern in the next 4 year plan. Migrante International will be very much strengthened when it succeeds in organizing seafarers. Meanwhile, abiding more religiously on social investigation and a more systematic approach in reaching out to migrants must be carried out.

Surging forward in international solidarity work to support class kins from other migrant nationalities in host countries must be steered towards the anti-imperialist struggle. Julie de Lima likewise stressed that Migrante International must strengthen itself to be at the core of building the broadest international united front by attending to the tasks of representation, solidarity and proto-diplomacy.

In the same manner, Migrante International must likewise involve itself in the broadest international front to fight climate change and promote environmental protection. Lastly, to counter the falsehoods and lies of the US-Duterte regime and its army of paid trolls, Migrante International must have a robust propaganda machine consisting of writers, IT techies, and a strong presence in digital and print media campaigns led by committees and organs for propaganda at all levels.

Providing input on the international situation was Amy Padilla of IBON International. She spoke about the onslaught of neoliberalism and imperialism and how the citizens of the world are waging a massive liberatory struggle to break free from the clutches of militarism and the final stage of monopoly capitalism.

Sonny Africa of IBON Foundation likewise presented an overview of the Philippine situation while supplying the audience with facts and figures that mark the country’s faltering economy accompanied by the exacerbation of authoritarian and exploitative elitist rule.

After the keynote speakers delivered their inputs, each global council member representing major territorial divisions namely the US, Canada, Asia-Pacific, Middle East, Europe and the Philippines reported on the current profile of Filipino compatriots in their respective regions as well as the issues and highlights of their campaigns from 2015 to 2018. Furthermore, each global council member provided updates on important organizational developments and expansions within their respective divisions in the past three years.

A significant leap in the organizing work among compatriots in the global regions is the historic founding and formation of Migrante USA in September 2018. The area and magnitude of work facing Migrante USA is immense since the US is host to the highest number of overseas Filipino compatriots numbering up to 4.7 Million people, 59 % of whom belong to the working class. At at time when the tide of mass resistance and political awakening is fast swelling among Europeans, it is likewise significant to laud the establishment of Migrante Europe in December 2016.

In December 2017, Migrante Philippines was founded as the US-Duterte regime was wreaking havoc while employing state terror to tighten the grip of the ruling elite and its imperialist masters over the country. The organizing work of Migrante Philippines among the families of OFWs, returned migrants and advocates further boosts the growth of progressive organizations in the Philippines to advance the struggle for liberation and national democracy. These great developments in the global regions will pave the way for a more vibrant and robust future for Migrante as a whole.

Ramon Bultron , Migrante International’s newly-elected deputy secretary general, presented the global trends on migration and development. He also gave feedback and significant insights on the Global Compact for Migration and how the agreement still propagates the myth of migration as a tool for development. Atty. Edwin dela Cruz of the International Seafarers Action Center spoke about the current developments in the international shipping industry, the situation of seafarers and the importance of advancing the organizing work for the sector.

The second day commenced with recognition and approval of new members by the voting body of delegates. A US-based institution, the Filipino Migrants Center was welcomed to the fold and membership was likewise granted to other newly established mass organizations and country-wide / region-wide formations.

With the active participation of the entire plenary, members of the presidium discussed the rules of participation which formally oriented all delegates to the form and conduct of all proceedings in the 8th Congress.

To have a more pronounced and clear-cut description of the movement’s nature, contents of Migrante’s orientation were reviewed and updated in light of the ever changing dynamics and internal conditions. The plenary affirmed its viewpoint that Migrante International is an entity composed of progressive organizations of overseas compatriots.

A better grasp on the history of Philippine migration patterns and each regime’s intensification of the labor export program (LEP) necessitated  the rephrasing of some paragraphs in the LEP segment and the inclusion of major additions describing the period spanning the US-controlled regimes of Estrada, Arroyo and the incumbent Duterte regime. Contributions of Filipino compatriots in the revolution against Spanish and American colonial powers zeroed in on the significance of continuing the people’s struggle for national liberation in all its forms up to the present times under a semi-colonial and semi-feudal system.

Totally grasping the direct relationship between the struggle for the rights and welfare of our overseas compatriots and the need to advance the movement for social change in the country was deemed crucial. For a long time, rights and welfare has been reduced to mere counselling. However, it is an integral issue in the Filipino society. The time has come to reclaim its political essence and stand firm in our affirmation that Rights and Welfare is a national democratic agenda and a major basis of our AOM (arouse, organize, mobilize) work among Filipino migrants. Campaigning on related issues addressed to host countries are to be undertaken with other nationalities.

New figures related to the profile of overseas compatriots were likewise added. Included therein were new paragraphs related to the rising number of Filipinos as international students overseas as well as the major issues hounding seafarers in the international maritime industry. Completing the update on the orientation document was the affirmation that Migrante International is an integral part of the national democratic movement in the Philippines to effect social change for the benefit of the Filipino people even if the main arena of work is among overseas compatriots.

Contextualizing on the Fascist attacks by the regime as backdrop, the executive committee report delved on the triumphs of Migrante International in continually expanding and consolidating its membership. The lessons of the past and the challenges that lie ahead were enumerated including stirring up the fight for rights and welfare and the strengthening of mass organizations.

In addition, the Executive Committee gave recognition and expressed support over the establishment of Migrante Philippines in December 2017 in its strong resolve to further promote the rights and welfare of overseas Filipinos alongside stepping up the organizing work among OFW families, returned migrants and migrants’ rights advocates at the home front.

Admonitions were pronounced against NGOism and reformism in engaging with allies, traditional organizations and institutions. Migrante International tasked itself on advancing its leadership in the International Migrants Alliance to consolidate its members by strengthening their political aptitude.

Discussions and debates on the proposed amendments to the constitution was followed by the election of new executive committee members. Receiving unanimous vote from the body of voting delegates are the following newly elected officers:

Joanna Concepcion, Chairperson
Arman Hernando, Vice Chairperson
Dolores Balladares Pelaez, Secretary General
Ramon Bultron, Deputy Secretary General
Victor Salloman, Finance Officer

After the new executive committee was presented to the congress body of delegates and participants, each global region appointed their representatives to the Global Council. The new Global Council members are the following:

Joy De Guzman, (USA)
Norman Carnay, (Asia-Pacific)
RJ Maramag, (Europe)
Marco Luciano, (Canada)
Gerry de Guzman, (Middle East)
Cherry Clemente, (Philippines)

Cristina Palabay of KARAPATAN Alliance for the Advancement of People’s Rights and Beverly Longid from the International Indigenous Peoples’ Movement for Self-determination and Liberation concluded the second day with a discussion on the human rights campaign and the need to isolate the Duterte regime in the international community through a more intensified campaign work and lobbying. With upbeat enthusiasm among Congress delegates and participants, the third day began with Carol Araullo of BAYAN (Bagong Alyansang Makabayan) presenting on the challenges under the Duterte Regime. Araullo asserted that the future of the country is in our hands and that our organized and collective struggle will triumph over the Fascist Duterte regime.

The General Program of Action for 2019 to 2021 hinged on strengthening and expanding our fold through educational and campaign work. The aim is to achieve 100 % growth in membership by 2021. Campaign for concrete political and economic issues must be underlined to bolster the oust movement against the Duterte regime. Improvement in strategies for organizational expansion, alliance work, international solidarity work, and internal affairs are to be translated through more creative methods and intensified efforts. Special tasks include enhanced vigilance in the upcoming electoral season, full support for the electoral campaign of Manggagawa Partylist and the senatorial candidacy of Neri Colmenares as well as advanced preparations for the 25th anniversary of Migrante International on 2021.

The 8th Congress climaxed with the strong and unanimous call by OFW leaders from different organizations, federations, alliances and institutions under Migrante International for the ouster of the US-Duterte regime due to his innumerable crimes against migrants and the Filipino people through the constant barrage of tyrannical and neoliberal attacks perpetrated by the entire state apparatus.

In a parody just before lunchtime, Duterte was depicted as the Grinch who constantly spoils and shatters the Christmas wish-list of Filipino migrants. Duterte the Grinch was captured and sentenced to ouster as demanded  by the audience. The final verdict was read out loud before the congress body.

Formal proceedings concluded with the adoption of two major resolutions. To systematize coordination between the home office and the member organizations for rights and welfare cases, a plan to hold a major Rights and Welfare training and conference this 2019 was framed. Another important resolution was on the human rights campaign and lobbying efforts against GRP under the US-Duterte Regime. Migrante International will take on significant role alongside ICHRP (International Coalition for Human Rights in the Philippines) and Karapatan in leading this international campaign. The resolutions passed included supporting local campaigns like Stop the deportation of Loida Quindoy, Justice for Larry (Nicolas), campaign against education trafficking, etc.

Warm greetings and messages of solidarity poured in especially during the solidarity night from the following: Bayan Muna Representative Carlos Zarate, Makabayan Senatorial Candidate Neri Colmenares, International League of People’s Struggles (ILPS), International Migrants Alliance (IMA), Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP), Gabriela, Kalumaran, and from Sumifru workers under NAMASUFA-NAFLU-KMU (Nagkahiusang Mamumuo sa Suyapa Farm – National Federation of Labor Unions – Kilusang Mayo Uno), ILPS Philippines, Kilusang Mayo Uno, National Council of Churches in the Philippines (NCCP) and the Iglesia Filipina Independiente (IFI).

The second to the last highlight of the three-day event was an evening filled with cultural presentations. Tatay Cesar Veloso recited Mary Jane’s poem Isang Kislap ng Pag-asa / A Spark of Hope. Dessa Ilagan performed solo pieces from the album Saka Lamang Papayapa: Mga Awiting Peacetalks. Edwin Quinsayas of Sikad (Sining Kadamay) excerpted monologues from the theater piece Sa Digma ng Halimaw.

Tag-ani Performing Arts Society performed on stage a 20-minute excerpt from the musicale Pagsambang Bayan followed by cultural presentations from each global region consisting of Migrante International delegates.

To close the 8th congress, a special finale was rendered by Sining Bulosan as a prelude into a moving tribute that featured a 10-minute slideshow honoring the martyrs’ contributions to the struggles of compatriots. In our struggle for justice and genuine freedom for every oppressed Filipino, their valiant sacrifices will forever be inscribed with utmost esteem in our collective memory.

Girded with zeal and fervour, delegates and participants of Migrante International 8th Congress went forth far and wide to build upon the triumphs of yesteryears while bearing in mind the great lessons that strengthened and consolidated its commission to serve the immense community of overseas Filipinos in the struggle for national democracy and liberation in the Philippines. As Migrante International marches forward to its 25th year on 2021, it hoists a stronger resolve to realize its vision of a society that will never be torn apart for the need to survive.

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Members present in the Congress: USA: Migrante USA, Migrante Los Angeles, Migrante Orange County, Migrante New York, Migrante Washington DC, Migrante Long Beach, Migrante Daly City, Migrante New Jersey, Migrante Youth Fort Washington, Migrante San Diego, Filipino Migrant Center. CANADA: Migrante Canada, Migrante Ontario, Migrante Alberta. EUROPE: Umangat-Migrante Italy, Ugnayang Pilipino sa Belgium, Pinay sa Holland, Migrante Switzerland, Filipino Domestic Workers Union. MIDDLE EAST: Migrante Riyadh – KSA, Kapatiran sa Gitnang Silangan, Migrante UAE, Samahan ng mga Migrante Manggagawa sa Qatar. ASIA-PACIFIC: Migrante Taiwan, Migrante Nagoya, Migrante Macau, Migrante New Zealand SOUTH KOREA: New Era Foundation, Pagiribang Bicolnon, Aguman, HONG KONG: Pinatud a Saleng Ti Umili, Filipino Lesbian Organization, Abra Migrant Workers Welfare Association, Likha Filipino Migrant Cultural Organization, Association of Concerned Filipinos, 7. Pangasinan Organization for Welfare Empowerment and Rights, Friends of Bethune House, Migrante Pier, Filipino Migrant Women Association, Filipino Migrant Workers Union, AUSTRALIA: Migrante Melbourne, Migrante Perth, Anakbayan Perth, Migrante Melbourne North. PHILIPPINES: Migrante Philippines, CHAPTERS: Migrante Youth-University of Rizal System, Migrante Isabela, ATIS Abra Migrants Desk, Migrante Nueva Ecija, Migrante Cavite, Migrante Caloocan, Migrante Central Visayas, Migrante General Santos, Migrante Davao

Observers: Gabriela Switzerland, Samahan ng mga Domestic Workers sa Gitnang Silangan (SANDIGAN), Kalipunan ng Migranteng Pilipino at Pamilya (KMPP), St. John Neumann Migrants’ Center – Redemptorist Church, Iglesia Filipina Independiente, Compass PH

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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As the public still reels from the uproar over Duterte’s recent confession on molesting their female household worker, the president just made another controversial statement rationalizing rape as a cultural practice and as a matter of “territory.”

In his speech during an event organized by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) on Wednesday, Duterte said, “ilang Filipina abroad, alam ninyo, na pag nanduon ay worker, paid, or working as a slave, rape is part of territory. Kasali sa kultura.”

Various groups representing women and the migrants’ sector expressed condemnation over the president’s latest rape remark. Migrante International Chairperson Joanna Concepcion said, “instead of ensuring justice for all the rape victims and providing full protection to all our women OFWs, you gave us a remark that virtually justifies the commission of heinous crimes against them.” Concepcion was recently elected as Migrante International’s chairperson and has long been a migrants’ rights leader among Filipino communities in the US. “Kailanman, hindi namin matatanggap ang sinasabi mong kapalaran namin na halayin at alipinin sa ibang bayan,” she added.

President Duterte in his same speech during the DTI event described OFW families as dysfunctional. “Pag wala ang nanay, nandiyan ang tatay, the eldest daughter becomes the surrogate mother. Pati anak niya. Kasi wala ang asawa. Now, pag ang tatay at ang nanay pumunta, magtrabaho sa middle east, sila ay iiwan sa lolo at lola,”Duterte stated.

When asked about Duterte’s remark on OFW families, Migrante Philippines Chairperson Arman Hernando was highly emotional as he took account of his elder sister and other female relatives working overseas. He retorted, “Mr. Duterte, it is your government that sent our mothers and sisters abroad to be enslaved through your labor export program.”

In 2016 alone, Migrante International was able to document 1,549 cases of maltreatment and 308 cases of rape and sexual abuse among OFWs in Kuwait.

“Your criminal neglect is distressing enough for us to condemn your inhuman regime. Yet again, this latest remark of yours deserves greater condemnation. Your slave society thinking as reflected in your remark has put them in greater danger because it aggrandizes the abuses inflicted by their foreign employers,” Hernando added.

Pinky Alamo of Samahan ng mga Domestic Helpers sa Gitnang Silangan (SANDIGAN) reiterated their group’s demand on the government to assume full responsibility in working for the attainment of justice for all OFW victims of abuse and maltreatment. Alamo described Duterte’s speech as “filthy and deplorable.” A victim of attempted rape herself, Pinky Alamo said, “hearing Duterte’s obscene remarks on women is like reliving over and over again all the traumatic experiences we went through from our abusive employers. We call on Duterte to stop the abuse!”

Wary of Panelo’s usual joke-centric excuse, Migrante International challenged the Duterte government to “repudiate this abhorrent statement” and “apologize to our hardworking women migrant workers.” The group likewise called on women OFWs to collectively assert their rights and welfare “by fighting the regime’s labour export program and strengthening the struggle to uproot the causes of forced migration in the face of Duterte’s inutile approach to their plight and sufferings.”

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On the final day of Migrante International’s 8^th Congress, overseas Filipino groups from Europe, North America, Middle East and the Asia-Pacific convened to hand down their final verdict on President Rodrigo Duterte. Enumerating the regime’s “atrocities” against the migrant sector and to the Filipino people, Migrante leaders were unanimous in calling for Duterte’s ouster.

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Joanna Concepcion, newly-elected chairperson of Migrante International stated, “OFWs can no longer endure the constant barrage of tyrannical and neoliberal attacks being hurled against us and our families. His broken promises dashed our hopes of ever seeing Filipinos being liberated from the curse of the government’s labor export program. Everything that the regime pronounced from the day he assumed office is all made up of lies and deceptions.”

Expressing outrage, the groups scored the endless piling up of state exactions ranging from TRAIN Law to the mandatory SSS coverage and insurance which OFWs regard as the regime’s heightened effort of bleeding OFW pockets dry to salvage the moribund Philippine economy.

Concepcion cited recent data from Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas which revealed that the amount of the country’s foreign debt has already exceeded its depleting foreign reserves at the close of the third quarter. As of end-September, Philippine national debt ballooned to $76.4 billion surpassing the $74 billion gross reserves. The sufficiency of foreign reserves plunged to a near 10-year low, a level which the country has not seen since the 2008 global financial crisis. Migrante blamed the trade deficit to high importations for Duterte’s Build Build Build program. This requires huge sums of foreign currency which led to the peso’s depreciation.

“As our families in the Philippines are battered by the unjust rise in the cost of goods and services due to Duterte’s TRAIN law, the ever increasing value of our foreign debt is now weighing heavily upon us. No doubt, the Duterte regime would have no other recourse but to extort OFWs further to death and plunder our hard-earned money to augment private profit through his pro-elite Build Build Build program,” Concepcion stated.

Migrante did not hold back in scoring the Duterte regime for trampling down on the country’s sovereignty by allowing Chinese installations in the West Philippine Sea and US troops in our inland territories. The group also decried Duterte’s failure to end contractualization and his legitimization of the government’s labor export program.

Delegates recounted the regime’s negligence in the cases of Irma Jotojot, Jakatia Pawa, Henry Acorda, Mary Jane Veloso and all other OFW victims of abuse and injustices overseas. Overseas Filipino community leaders vowed to make Duterte pay for all the blood spilled in his “fake” drug war which human rights groups say have claimed thousands of innocent lives including those from OFW families like Kian delos Santos and Allan Rafael.

The group likewise castigated the Duterte administration for Martial Law in Mindanao, the persecution and killings perpetrated against peasants, Lumads, lawyers and church people; media repression, injustices against hundreds of political prisoners, and the regime’s ploy to install an outright dictatorship through charter change. “It’s high time that the Filipino people advance the termination of Duterte’s rabid tyrannical rule,” the group stated.

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Duterte’s “innumerable crimes” led to OFWs finally handing down their verdict to “Oust the US-Duterte regime.” During their pronouncement, President Duterte was depicted by OFW leaders as “DiGrinch” who constantly spoils their Christmas by offering them “fake gifts.” The parody taken from the Hollywood film “The Grinch” winded up with his execution symbolizing Duterte’s ouster from power.

Video link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AcDWqUuhhwY

 

At the back of the recently concluded intergovernmental adoption by the Philippines and 163 other UN member states of the Global Compact on Migration (GCM) which was held in Morocco, several OFW leaders and family members from different countries gathered on Wednesday for a year-end briefing on the state of Filipino migrants under Duterte.

Joanna Concepcion, executive director of Filipino Migrants Center (USA) pointed out that GCM propagates the false illusion of migration as a tool for development and that it will only intensify the Philippines’ labor export program with the instrument normalizing migration as an ordinary part of reality. “While GCM included the language of human rights in its contents, its non-binding nature does not really hold governments accountable in addressing the troubles faced by migrants,” Concepcion stated.

Aside from aggressiveness in entering new OFW labor markets like China and Russia, Arman Hernando of Migrante Philippines scored the Duterte administration for constantly peddling OFWs even in the absence of protective bilateral measures. Hernando likewise raised the alarm on the Duterte government’s barrage of state exactions like the mandatory insurance, TRAIN law and mandatory SSS coverage to serve as guarantees to foreign countries and investors on loans directed for his Build Build Build program.

In a study conducted by Migrante in October, the 3000 % increase in the amount of SSS exactions from OFWs would translate to Php144 Billion in the first year of implementation alone. “Since this is the biggest state exaction imposed on OFWs, Duterte is unmatched as the only president in the history of the Philippines’ labor export program who salivated after this humongous amount of money. Normalizing migration through the Philippines’ adoption of the Global Compact only emboldens the Duterte regime to introduce more state exactions,” Hernando stated.

This was seconded by Thea Reyes, wife of an OFW based in UAE. Between sobs, Reyes decried state exactions imposed by the Duterte government including the TRAIN law and was skeptical on Duterte’s Build Build Build to employ Filipino workers. “Permanente ba talaga nitong mapapauwi ang asawa ko? Parang hindi naman. Mga dayuhang kapitalista lang ang makikinabang,” Reyes asked as she longed for her husband this Christmas.

Families of Filipino migrants in the US and Japan are deploring the heightened criminalization and deportations of migrants and the Duterte government’s indifference on their plight. In a live video conference, Tabitha Ponciano, Portland coordinator of the Justice for Larry Campaign (US) and Lilia, the mother of Larry Nicolas, related the danger faced by Larry and many other Filipinos facing deportations despite their long-time legal and permanent residence in the US. Larry is one of the many Filipino victims detained by ICE or the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency of the United States. Duterte himself stated that he won’t help Filipinos facing immigration problems in the US. “If you get caught there and deported, I will not lift a finger,” Duterte warned.

Butch Pongos of Migrante Japan currently leads a campaign to stop the deportation of Loida Quindoy. Like Larry Nicolas, Quindoy was also a long-time resident of Japan whose visa got cancelled and is now threatened with deportation. According to Jayson Mendoza, Loida’s son, they are not receiving any substantial help from embassy officials. “Sa katunayan, gobyerno pa mismo ang gumagawa ng paraan para mapabilis ang kanilang deportation. Mga embassy officials pa ang nag-iikot para maghikayat sa mga Pilipino na magpa-deport na lang,” Mendoza lamented.

Pongos revealed that there are about more than 500 OFWs currently held in different immigrant detention centers in Japan.

In the Middle East, Filipinos are besieged by the socioeconomic crisis gripping countries like Saudi and Qatar which are now working on the nationalization of their labor sector. Noel Tolentino of Samahan ng mga Manggagawa Qatar (SAMMAQA-Qatar) revealed the widespread termination of workers, depression and non-payment of wages even among those employed by big private companies. Tolentino said, “kung sa Saudi may Saudization, sa Qatar naman ay may Qatarization. Ibinunga na rin ang krisis na ito ng pulitikal at ekonomikong hidwaan sa pagitan ng mga bansa sa Middle East.”

Nanay Celia, mother of Filipina on death row Mary Jane Veloso who just arrived from a GCM side-event in Morocco, burst into tears as she attested to her family’s chronic ordeal with the ill effects of migration starting from the physical abuse she endured as a household worker in Saudi, the maltreatment experienced overseas by her daughters Maritess and Darling to the 9-year incarceration of Mary Jane Veloso who is still on death row. “From generation to generation and from one regime to another, OFWs and their families have been victims of impunity and injustice,” Nanay Celia lamented.

These plights of OFWs likewise prompted Arman Hernando of Migrante Philippines to react on the impending job loss for 600 thousand Filipino workers next year due to the reenacted budget laid out by the Duterte government. “As the problems faced by OFWs are amplified by crises left and right, the Duterte regime could have increased its budget for legal assistance to Filipinos working overseas. Wala talagang matinong pagbabago sa mga patakaran ng pamahalaan,” Hernando concluded.

Closing the year-end briefing, Migrante International Chairperson Garry Martinez pointed to the horror stories related by OFWs substantiating that migration does not really lead to development but only creates tragic social costs to Filipino families and to the country as a whole.

Earlier’s “Year-End Briefing on the State of Filipino Migrants under Duterte” is one of Migrante International’s assemblies and activities leading to the International Migrants Day on December 18.