Detained OFWs to sue recruiter

CEBU - The 23 Cebuano overseas Filipino workers who had just been repatriated from the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago will be filing criminal and administrative charges against Be Glad Worldwide Placement agency for alleged labor violations, illegal recruitment and estafa.

Their lawyer Felipe Landicho yesterday said the incident caused irreparable trauma and problems to the families of the 23 workers who were detained for the several weeks in the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago after their passports were found to be fake.

Landicho said that they are still collating additional data to support their complaint before filing the case with Philippine Overseas Employment Administration next week.

The 23 OFWs, who just arrived Wednesday night, paid a courtesy call to Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia to thank the provincial government for shouldering their plane tickets at P82,000 each, or a total of P1.8 million.

Garcia, however, said it was not about politicking.

“This is a case of procrastination, red-tape and much posturing and clearly you will realize that sincerity lies on genuine service,” Garcia said.

The workers were met by Gov. Garcia, Vice Gov. Gregorio Sanchez, Cebu fifth district Rep. Red Durano, Mandaue City Vice Mayor Carlo Fortuna and several Provincial Board members and their families upon arrival at the Mactan Cebu International Airport last Wednesday night.

The governor said that the workers were victimized twice: First by their recruitment agency and second by politicking.

Although the governor did not mention the name of a politician who allegedly took credit for the repatriation, one of the families of the 23 Cebuano OFWs could not help but criticize Senate President Manuel Villar.

“Miduol man mi sa iyaha kay nakakita man mi sa iyang commercial nga motabang sa OFW pero wala man dayon action. Dili pareha ni Gobernador Garcia nga pagduol namo, iya gyud dayong gi-aksyonan,” she said.

Linette Gubalani, whose brother Roberto was one of the victims, said they went from one agency to another but got no feedback from them.

“We asked helped from everywhere bisan kinsa nalang gyud among giduol pero wala mi nakadawat og tubag, mura’g wala gyud assurance,” Gubalani said. —Garry B. Lao/BRP (THE FREEMAN)