Aquino gov’t inutile in Middle East crisis — lawmaker By Charlie V. Manalo 03/03/2011

Aquino gov’t inutile in Middle East crisis — lawmaker

By Charlie V. Manalo 03/03/2011

Contrary to claims by the Aquino government it is doing its best to assist overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) stranded in Libya and in nearby countries following the political turmoil which erupted in several Middle East countries, a member of the minority bloc in the House of Representatives yesterday said that to date, the government has practically done nothing to aid the helpless OFWs.

At a press briefing, Zambales Rep. Milagros Magsaysay belied claims by the Aquino administration it was responsible for airlifting some 500 OFWs from Libya early this week.

“The more than 500 OFWs from Libya airlifted earlier this week was not through the efforts of the government but by the employers of the OFWs themselves. The government has practically done nothing to help our countrymen working in the Middle East affected by the political turmoil there,” said Magsaysay.

In fact, Magsaysay said that during a committee hearing, Department of Labor and Employment (DoLE) Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz admitted they are at a lost on who really is the person-in-command in the Middle East crisis. This was after the government recalled Ambassador Roy Cimatu, who was then the official in charge of handling the situation in the Middle East..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/nation/20110303nat6.html