More jailed OFWs seek Binay help

MANILA, Philippines - Vice President Jejomar Binay’s active intercession on behalf of Filipino workers convicted of crimes overseas has encouraged more jailed Filipinos abroad to ask him to help free them from imprisonment.

Labor group Migrante International yesterday said it has received calls from 62 Filipinos jailed in Bahrain asking Binay for assistance after hearing reports that 25 overseas Filipino workers from Doha, Qatar would soon be repatriated. 

“Most of them are absconders, who were forced to run away from their employers due to abuse and maltreatment; while others were charged of immorality, theft, and other petty crimes,” John Leonard Monterona, Migrante Middle East regional coordinator said.

He said Migrante would formally inform Binay about the plea of the jailed Filipinos in Bahrain.

“Binay could work an amnesty grant for the jailed OFWs,” Monterona said.

He urged Binay to visit Bahrain to look into the conditions of distressed Filipino workers.

“As he has been hopping from one Arab state to another, and getting fruitful results in attending various issues and concerns and even the repatriation of OFWs, then the VP is urged to include on his Arab working tour going to Bahrain, and maybe include Jordan and Lebanon as there are distressed OFWs in these countries too,” Monterona said.

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