RIYADH, 29 August 2004 — A group has asked the Philippine Embassy to shed light on the reported deaths or beating of Filipino maids and other workers to give other members of the community a peace of mind.
In a letter to Ambassador Bahnarim Guinomla, members of the Kapihan ng mga Filipino Community Leaders sa Riyadh (Kapihan) said the embassy ought to tell the real score amid a spate of “negative” reports that has alarmed the Filipino migrant community worldwide and the folks at home following the reported death of maid Erna Franco.
Vice Consul Jun Israel had been quoted in reports as saying Franco was brought by her still unnamed male employer to the Riyadh Central Hospital (Shumaissy Hospital) last week for treatment from severe injuries.
The victim, who comes from President Gloria Arroyo’s province of Pampanga, did not survive.
Vice Consul Israel said authorities are withholding information pending investigation but he was told that two women — a Saudi and a Moroccan — have been taken into police custody for investigation in connection with case.
Because of the recent death, the activist group Migrante International had demanded the recall of Ambassador Guinomla, saying that many OFWs are being abused under his watch.
Undersecretary Jose Brillantes, head of the Department of Foreign Affairs’ (DFA) office for migrant workers, had said he will instruct the embassy to hire a lawyer to prosecute the case and ensure that justice prevail for Franco.
The Kapihan group met on Friday at Al-Mutlaq Hotel to discuss the latest controversy and noted that the embassy ought to tell the various community organizations, being its partners, of what’s really going on.
“We need to know the real situation, not only to reassure ourselves that indeed your good offices are still up to its mandated duties, but also for us to know where the community of leaders could be of help,” the letter added.
Alex Bello of OFW Congress said the group is also asking for the “correct” figures on the number of Filipinos currently languishing in jail, the status of their cases, names of those who are in death row, and the number of detained minors.
Minutes of meeting issued by the group quoted Dr. Lito Astillero of the Order of the Knights of Rizal (OKOR) as saying news reports implying that the Philippine Embassy was not fully aware of what was happening around the Filipino community in the Kingdom was distressing.
Astillero said Ambassador Guinomla had been invited as guest of honor of the Kapihan’s forum on Sept. 10 so that he can enlighten everyone about the Franco case and other questions that have cropped up.
At the same time, Astillero and his colleagues cautioned Migrante against making hasty judgments.
“Migrante does not know what actually is happening here. Let’s wait for the embassy’s report or ask the ambassador. If he’s guilty then we’ll also demand his recall but if he’s not then we should support him,” Astillero said.
