An alliance of Filipino migrant rights group in
'We wish good luckkkkk to Ambassador Antonio Villamor for his 3 years and 8 months of service to the OFWs in Saudi Arabia, though OFWs have expected more from him that he failed to met,” said John Leonard Monterona, Migrante-Middle East regional coordinator.
Ambassador Villamor is a political appointee of former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and was re-assigned as RP ambassador to
Monterona said if President Aquino III is true to his promised of change in the decadent government system extending it in various diplomatic post abroad, he must start it by deploying career diplomats rather than appointing political allies for various RP posts abroad.
“The 1.2-M OFWs in Saudi Arabia deserve genuine service from the government that is heavily dependent on the billions of OFWs remittances in keeping the economy afloat; OFWs deserve 'pay back' from P-Noy rather than his political allies by sending senior career Ambassador,” Monterona averred.
Monterona said for 4 decade now since deployment of OFWs in the '70's, OFWs in Saudi Arabia have long been deprived of genuine service, on-site services and welfare programs that would alleviate the deplorable conditions of OFWs mostly domestic and construction workers as the most vulnerable among OFWs sectors.
He said the 7–10 OFW cases of abuses and maltreatment, aside from illegal recruitment cases, Migrante chapters in the Middle East have been receiving daily is a serious concern that the government must seriously looks on.
“A highly qualified career diplomat, as Ambassador in Saudi, first job is to ensure that OFWs' well-being, rights and welfare will be protected, and this cannot be bargained,” Monterona ended.
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