Detained Cebuano OFWs to arrive home tomorrow

CEBU - The 23 Cebuano Overseas Filipino Workers detained in Trinidad and Tobago for almost three months owing to fake passports are expected to arrive in Cebu tomorrow evening.

No less than Governor Gwendolyn Garcia and some Capitol officials will greet the OFW’s at the Mactan Cebu International Airport around 8:30 pm tomorrow.

Provincial Social Welfare and Development Officer Marivic Garces said the provincial government has shouldered the expenses of the OFW’s to ensure that they could return home safe. Capitol purchased tickets amounting to P1.8 million for the return of the detained workers. Each ticket costs P82,521.

The OFW’s left Trinidad and Tobago to London 5pm yesterday and will be flying to Doha, Qatar then to Manila before flying to Cebu.

Two weeks ago, the families of the detained workers sought Garcia’s assistance. Their lawyer, Felipe Landicho, had said they have asked the help of other organizations but it was from the Capitol that they finally got assistance.

“Safety ang atong siguradohon kay mga Sugbuanon ni, whether naa mo sa probinsiya o sa siyudad,” Garcia had said.

The assistance from the province was even put on hold after labor attaché Florenda Herrera told the governor that the province’s help was no longer necessary as the Secretary of Labor had the funds to shoulder the OFW’s travel home.

This, however, did not assure the families of the OFW’s, who claimed they were referred from one office to another for two weeks.

“For two weeks, gipasa-pasa ra mi, walay klaro nga communication, wala,wala gyud. Unya karon moingon sila nga naa diay sila funds,” they said. — Garry B. Lao/JMO (THE FREEMAN)