Spare OFWs from Aquino’s Administration First ‘Major, Major Blunder’ – Migrante Published on August 26, 2010

Spare OFWs from Aquino’s Administration First ‘Major, Major Blunder’ – Migrante

Published on August 26, 2010

By JANESS ANN J. ELLAO
Bulatlat.com
MANILA — Upon learning what happened in the bloody ending of the August 23 hostage crisis, there is only one thing that Benedicta Tee, 60, was worried about – the welfare of her sister, an overseas Filipino worker in Hongkong.

Tee feared that her sister, Soledad Pillas, 52, might be sent home to the country by her employer, a Hongkong national, simply because she is a Filipino. “She is our breadwinner in the family. She supports the medical needs of my younger brother who is ill.”

Pillas managed to send a text message to her sister that she is fine. But added that, “most of the Hongkong nationals were really angry on how the hostage crisis ended on Monday.”

Former Police Senior Inspector Rolando Mendoza held Hongkong tourists and some Filipinos as hostages. He was demanding that the Office of Ombudsman to take action on his pending case, which relieved him from service. The 12-hour hostage, however, left eight Hongkong tourists dead.

The bloody ending of the hostage crisis was later on blamed on how the Philippine government poorly managed the situation and eventually to the media, who was giving blow-by-blow accounts of what was happening at that time.

Migrante International demands the Philippine government’s hand in protecting OFWs in Hongkong from possible backlashes because of the tragic hostage taking on Monday (Photo by Janess Ann J. Ellao / bulatlat.com)

Migrante International chairperson Garry Martinez told Bulatlat that he is not surprised if there are negative reactions coming from Hongkong nationals and its possible repercussions to OFWs. “We express our sincerest condolences to the families and friends of the victims,” Martinez said, “We know how difficult it is to fetch a loved one who is dead.”
But Martinez said that OFWs should not suffer the consequences of President Benigno Aquino III’s administration’s first “major, major blunder.”

Repercussions 

Gabriela Rep. Luz Ilagan said that the Aquino government should brace itself for the possible repercussions of the bus hostage. “A backlash is inevitable. The Philippine government should also be prepared to have more local jobs ready should domestic workers in Hongkong find themselves being sent home by their employers,” she said in a statement..... MORE

Source:  Bulatlat

URL: http://www.bulatlat.com/main/2010/08/26/spare-ofws-from-aquinos-administration-first-major-major-blunder-migrante/