EDITORIAL - Dying in foreign lands

Another overseas Filipino worker was executed after he was found guilty of committing a heinous crime in a foreign land. The beheading of Jenifer Viduya in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia last week added to the statistics of OFWs who lost their lives while seeking greener pasture abroad.

A Saudi Arabia court had sentenced Viduya to death for killing an Arab who wanted to rape him. Viduya contended before the court that what he did was self defense. But his sentence was affirmed by the Tameez Court (Appellate Court) and the Supreme Judicial Council (Supreme Court) of KSA last April 21 despite appeals filed by his lawyer.

Following his execution, Viduya's family has complained over the government's neglect of his case. Had President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo vigorously interceded in his case, his relatives claim he would have been spared from the gallows.

While Viduya, just 19 when he was sent to the death chamber, may have told the truth that he killed his attacker in self defense, it was just unfortunate the courts in that Arab country refused to take note of his claims. He died with unfulfilled dreams of someday helping his family live a decent life.

For years, we have been hearing tales of the sad flight of OFWs in the foreign lands. Even before the hanging of domestic helper Flor Contemplacion in Singapore for killing her fellow Filipina maid, the government already documented dozens of cases of misfortunes befalling OFWs as they toil in search of bright future for their families that are living in poverty at home.  

But the sad fact remains that the government seems to have been remiss in its effort to protect them. There were countless cases in which cries for help from abused OFWs just fell on deft ears at the Philippine embassies.  

Now our OFWs, often hailed by the government as the country's modern heroes, are dying in the lands they hope would help them and their families survive in these trying times. They infuse billions of dollars into the country to help turn the ailing economy yet the government seems to be neglecting their welfare as they go about their daily routine.

Every year, about a million Filipinos leave the country in search of better opportunities abroad, uncertain of what lies ahead while toiling in unfamiliar environments. So it is just a must for the government to look after them by whatever means.