“As far as I know, someone at the embassy could be paid to expedite the repatriation of an OFW (Overseas Filipino Worker) who has just been imprisoned. But what about an OFW who does not have money to go back but has completed his jail term?” John Leonard Monterona, Migrante Middle East regional coordinator, said in a letter to the embassy.

Monterona said, however, that he had not received a reply from the embassy.

“This is not the first time that I have heard bribery allegations against an embassy official. In October last year, I also heard allegations from a detainee’s relative who said that a member of embassy staff was asking 30,000 pesos in exchange for the release of the man, who was apprehended for illegally possessing drugs,” he said.

“These are serious allegations that need to be investigated by embassy officials. We are not saying that they are true, but they cannot just be ignored.”

According to Lizel, also an OFW in the Kingdom, her cousin Ronnie (not his real name) was arrested and detained for possessing liquor in October 2009.

Lizel said that her cousin maintains that he was framed.

He was working as an electrician in a government-owned company for 15 years before his arrest. He is currently being held at the Malaz Central jail.

Ronnie is one of 48 OFWs who had completed their jail terms but are still in custody. He and other inmates sought Migrante-Middle East’s help recently.