Institutionalized goverrnment exactions imposed on OFWs by BS administration

Posted by Belarmino Dabaslos Saguing
Rome, Italy October 30,2014

Rome migrant workers protesting against state exactions (photo courtesy of UMANGAT-MIGRANTE)

Since Pres. BS Aquino assumed post, he had legalized “kotong” and state exactions on OFWs, particularly through the implementation of Admnistrative Order 31.

AO 31 practically institutionalized more state exactions and fees imposed on OFWs when existing onerouse fees remain under protest by the sector since BS Aquino took office.

A study by Migrante International estimating that since 2010 the BS Aquino government has been collecting an average of at least P26,267 from every OFW processed by the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA). This amount is higher than the average P18,000 the government collected before 2010.

If 4,884 OFWs leave daily to work abroad, the government earns an average of P146.5 million a day from processing fees and other costs shouldered by OFWs

Aside from the hike in costs of requirements for the OEC, other fees and tax schemes being imposed on OFWs include the affidavit of support (AOS) in UAE, Macau and some parts of Europe and the discriminatory P75 Comelec certificate of registration, other onerous fees specifically charged to seafarers and entertainers, and House Bill 3576 dubbed as the “forced remittance bill”.

The further institutionalization of state exactions on OFWs when welfare services for OFWs in distress have gone from bad to worse. “Unresolved cases of OFWs continue to pile up at the POEA, National Labor Relations Commission (NLRC), Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) and Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA).”

State exactions have caused OFWs and their families to become debt-ridden, contributing greatly to the widespread landlessness and poverty of many. It is not unheard of for peasant families to mortgage or sell their small parcels of land or to submit their children to unpaid labor just to be able to pay debtors or produce the sum needed to pay for exorbitant pre-departure and placement fees.

OFWs are plagued with an assortment of issues and problems throughout the entire migration cycle yet the BS Aquino government has barely done any decisive action to support and protect its migrant workers and their families. The BS Aquino government’s ability to uphold Filipino migrants’ rights and promote their welfare has lagged behind its apparent success in pursuing a more aggressive labor export policy.

The continuous onslaught of state exactions on OFWs, combined with the BS Aquino government’s lack of welfare service and assistance to OFWs in distress and the overall economic conditions of OFWs and their families amid widespread corruption and criminal neglect of the government are enough reasons for Filipino migrants to call for BS Aquino to step down from office

For this reason, the Italy based OFWs continue to wage protests against these state exactions termed by some as extortion.

Press Release | Undocumented migrants told to assert rights in forum in Amsterdam; human rights advocates slam “mos maiorum”

Posted by Belarmino Dabalos Saguing

Rome, Italy October 17 1014

PRESS RELEASE
15 October 2014

“There should be no panic. Especially in Amsterdam, there is no policy to hunt down illegals. That is the experience I have, and that is, I hope, the experience I will have for the next two weeks. If the police stops you they must have a reason and explain to you the reason why they should be asking for your identification.”

Thus explained Dutch immigration lawyer Martijn Strooij of the Hamerslag and van Haren Advocaten to several dozens of Filipino, Indonesia and African migrants and Dutch migrant rights advocates during an information afternoon held Oct. 12 at the Old Catholic Church in Amsterdam, on the planned Joint Police Operation to be conducted by the EU Council fromOctober 13-26, reportedly to gather intelligence information and apprehend undocumented migrants in several EU countries.

The EU-wide police operation called “mos maiorum” (ancestral custom) was contained in a memorandum issued by the EU Council last July, purportedly to crackdown on human and drug traffickers in countries in the EU, but targets to apprehend undocumented migrants in order to gather intelligence information to apprehend the traffickers.

Organizations of migrants and refugees, and human rights advocates have voiced deep concern over the intentions and conduct of the joint police operation, and have argued that this action is actually a part of the EU Return Directive which seeks to unjustly deport undocumented people from the EU and criminalize the undocumented.

During the information afternoon at the OCC, Mercedes Milleti of the Brussels-based Platform for International Cooperation on Undocumented Migrants (PICUM) came all the way from Belgium to express deep concern over the planned crackdown on the undocumented and voice solidarity with migrants and refugees. She said the best way for undocumented people to protect themselves is to assert their rights and organize themselves.

Filia den Hollander, a Dutch artist and a strong advocate of a support group for women without a residence permit (SVZV- Steungroep voor Vrouwen zonder Verblijfsvergunning) also expressed concern on the impending police operation that would target undocumented persons. She offered her organization's modest support in terms of informing other concerned individuals including artists in the campaign to respect the rights of the undocumented and to stop the crackdown on undocumented persons.

Grace Punongbayan of Migrante Europe and the Filipino Parish in Amsterdam, explained that the “mos maiorum” is a continuation of similar EU-wide police operations launched earlier in several EU countries that have targetted undocumented migrants and refugees. She said the operation is actually part of the bigger framework of criminalizing undocumented migrants and refugees, which she said goes against many important international conventions on human rights and respect for an individual's civil, political, social and economic rights.

Apart from explaining to the migrants present at the forum of their legal rights, Martijn Strooij also urged them to assert these rights even in a situation when they have already been arrested and taken into custody. He said his law office is always ready to assist migrants and refugees who might be affected by the police operation, and strongly reiterated an individual's right to have a lawyer before the police could extract information from them.

A letter sent to the European Parliament from the European United Left/Nordic Green Left (GUE/NGL), a progressive political group in the European Parliament, was read which called for the cancellation of the “mos maiorum”.

Also, a letter of concern from Bishop Dirk Jan, Bishop of Haarlem of the Old Catholic Church was read during the event. Bishop Jan said: It is with great distress that the Old-Catholic Church of the Netherlands heard of the upcoming Joint Police Operation ‘Mos Maiorum’, that will take place next week. While recognizing the huge problems involved with the international trafficking of human beings and drugs, we do not see how this police operation will catch those who are really guilty of these crimes. On the contrary, we notice the insecurity and great fear especially among the undocumented people, who are likely to be criminalized and arrested without any other reason than their so-called illegal status.

“We as the Church of Christ therefore protest strongly against all violence against innocent  people, who come to our part of the world to try to make a living overhere. We fear that this  police action makes these people more vulnerable than they already are. In prayer and action  we do our best to give shelter and protection to those who are in fear and danger,” the Bishop of Haarlem stressed.

The Bishop of Haarlem also offered the OCC as a “zone of safety and peace” for undocumented migrants.

At the conclusion of the forum, participants agreed to come together again on November 16, at the OCC in Amsterdam to share experiences during the two-week police operation in Amsterdam, and plan for a more vigorous campaign to uphold the rights of the undocumented and their regularization.

The information afternoon was organized jointly by the Filipino Parish in Amsterdam, Stichting Migrante Europe, and Migrante-Netherlands.#

Reference:

Grace Punongbayan
office@migrante.eu

Tribute to Hacienda Luisita martyrs, reminder that the struggle against hunger, landlessness and injustice continues

Posted by Belarmino Dabalos Saguing

Rome, Italy October 16,2014

Source Verification:

Gi Estrada – Media Officer

+639166114181

Tribute to Hacienda Luisita martyrs, reminder that the struggle against hunger,

landlessness and injustice continues

An ecumenical service to pay tribute to victims of extra-judicial killings in Hacienda Luisita, organized by the Alyansa ng Manggagawang Bukid sa Asyenda Luisita (AMBALA), Unyon ng Manggagawa sa Agrikultura (UMA), Iglesia Filipina Independiente (IFI) was held today in Brgy. Mapalacsiao, Tarlac City, coinciding with the observance of World Hunger Day and the start of Philippine Peasant Week.

Among those given tribute were IFI Bishop Ramento who was killed on October 3, 2006, Bayan-Muna Central Luzon secretary general Florante Collantes, killed October 15, 2005, Central Azucarera de Tarlac Labor Union president and Mapalacsiao brgy. chairman Ricardo Ramos, killed October 25, 2006, and local AMBALA leader Dennis de la Cruz who was killed in November 1, 2013.

“This tribute is a stark reminder that widespread hunger persists among those who toil the land but have no land of their own and that there is gnawing hunger as well for justice for the death of those who valiantly fought for genuine land reform,” said Ranmil Echanis, secretary general of UMA.

The event also inaugurated a marker for Ricardo Ramos, honoring the late village chief’s “principled leadership and militant advocacy for genuine unionism in the sugar workers’ struggle and for genuine land reform.” After the ecumenical service, the participants joined a march around Brgy. Mapalacsiao which stopped at the exact spot where Ramos was shot by a sniper eight years ago. Witnesses at that time identified Private First Class Roderick U. Dela Cruz and another soldier, Romeo Castillo Jr. as perpetrators of the crime. The case against Castillo was immediately dismissed while de la Cruz was absolved of the killing on December 14, 2013 after spending 4 years in jail.

“Impunity still persists  in the same way that hunger remains widespread because those who produce food in the Philippines still wallow in poverty including the agricultural workers in Hacienda Luisita,” said Florida Sibayan, chairperson of AMBALA.

According to the National Statistics Office, “Farmers and fishermen are among the least paid workers in the Philippine economy with an average daily wage and salary of P156.8 and P178.43, respectively in 2011”.

“Most farmers don’t own the land they till while agricultural workers don’t get to work daily and usually have work for only six to nine months and are jobless during so-called seasons or tiempos muertos.  The liberalization of the agricultural sector adds to the woes of the farmers as imported agricultural products are sold more cheaply than what they produce,” Echanis said.

“Those who organize themselves, like the members of AMBALA and their supporters, to expose and oppose the prevailing exploitation of peasants are being labeled as trouble makers and everyday face the threat of being imprisoned or even executed,” Echanis added.

“”The tribute to the martyrs of Hacienda Luisita should inspire the ranks of the Luisita farmers to persevere in the struggle against the aggressive and violent moves of the Cojunagco-Aquinos and the Aquino administration to continue depriving the farm workers of land and justice. The best way to honor the bravery of our fallen comrades is to continue the struggle for genuine agrarian reform and national industrialization,” Sibayan said. 

Among those who participated in the activity included foreign delegates for an International Fact Finding Mission (IFFM), members of various trade unions, teachers and students organizations, religious groups, and human rights and peasant advocates.

Advisory | Italy Passes New Law Against Illegal Migration

Posted by Belarmino Dabalos Saguing
Rome, Italy October 16 2014

From Announcements - 8 June 2011 02:03 PM

http://www.owwa.gov.ph:8080/wcmqs/announcements/

All Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) are advised of the passage of the Italian Parliament

of Law No. 92 (Law 92) titled Security Package’, and sub-titled ‘Measures for a More Secure Life for the Citizens’.

The new law aims to stem illegal migration by making it more difficult for foreigners to enter

Italy if they do not have the proper documentation. Law 92, which effectively makes illegal

entry a crime in Italian jurisdiction, has the following provisions/features, among others:

a) Imprisonment from six (6) months to four (4) years and the obligatory arrest of the illegal

entrant who will be subjected to a quick trial;

b) Phenomenon of the so-called ‘marriage for convenience’ with the sole purpose of

acquiring Italian citizenship;

c) Establishment of a national data bank to ascertain paternity of a person and blood

relationships of foreign citizens;

d) Easier expulsions/deportations;

e) Arrest and confiscation of properties transferred through illegal titles to foreigners whoare irregularly staying in Italian jurisdiction; and

f) Extension up to eighteen (18) months the period of stay in centers of temporary welcome.

As Italy is a favored destination for OFWs, the circulation of this latest information hopes to 

prevent or minimize problems arising from illegal migration.

(source : http://www.owwa.gov.ph:8080/wcmqs/announcements)

Press Release | Poorest congressman as victim, confirms abuses in Hacienda Luisita

Date:	Wed, 15 Oct 2014 11:38:04 +0800

Posted by Belarmino Dabalos Saguing

Rome, Italy October 15, 2014

Anakpawis Rep. Fernando Hicap inside Tarlac police headquarters.  (September 2013)

PRESS RELEASE
October 15, 2014
Reference: Anakpawis Partylist Rep. Fernando Hicap, 0920-227-1620



The Philippine’s poorest member of the House of Representatives, Anakpawis Rep. Fernando Hicap claimed he himself became an actual victim of abuse inside Hacienda Luisita ironically while attending an investigative mission on September 17 of last year to look into reported cases of harassment against farm workers related to the alleged aggressive land grabbing efforts of the Tarlac Dev’t Corp (Tadeco) and the “raffle-style” land distribution of the Dept. of Agrarian Reform (DAR).

“Mapapaisip ka talaga kung ano ang ibig sabihin ng mga opisyales ng Malacanang na patunayan ang mga pang-aabuso sa Hacienda Luisita na ako na nga na congressman ay hinuli pa ng mga lokal na pulis,” [It is really puzzling what Malacanang officials meant by proving it (abuses in Hacienda Luisita) when I, myself, a member of congress was even arrested by the local police.] Hicap said.

Hicap was arrested, together with 10 others (including his legislative staff and aide and an Australian land reform advocate nun), when they were gathering data about how DAR officials implemented the cloa distribution and the alleged land grabbing by Tadeco, a firm controlled by the Cojuangco-Aquino family.  The activity was led by the Alyansa ng Manggagawang Bukid sa Asyenda Luisita (Ambala), Unyon ng Manggagawa sa Agrikultura (Uma) and other farmers organization.

“Kahit nagpakilala na ako ay isang congressman, hindi nila ako iginalang at hinuli pa rin nila ako, kasunod nito, nagpahayag silang inimbitahan daw ako for questioning pero hindi iyon imbitasyon dahil pwersahan nila akong dinala sa presinto, naka-dalawang araw rin ako sa loob, ” [Though I introduced myself as a congressman, they (police) showed disrespect and still arrested me, then they issued a statement that I was invited for questioning though I was forced to come with them, I stayed inside for 2 days.]  Hicap added.

Last October 10, complaints of attempted murder, arson, child abuse, physical injuries, illegal arrest and arbitrary detention, theft, robbery and malicious mischief were prepared and filed for Hacienda Luisita farmers led by Ambala, by a group of lawyers from the Sentro para sa Tunay na Repormang Agraryo (Sentra), National Union of People’s Lawyers (Nupl), Public Interest Law Center (Pilc) and the Pro-Labor Legal Assistance Center (Place) at the Dept. of Justice (DOJ).  Among the respondents are the president Aquino’s uncle Jose “Peping” Cojuangco Jr, sister Maria Elena “Ballsy” Aquino-Cruz and other board members of the Tadeco, former LTO chief Virginia Torres, Tarlac provincial police director Alex Sintin and former Tarlac city police chief Bayani Razalan.

The Anakpawis representative also hinted that president Benigno Simeon “Noynoy” Aquino III is actually using the government institution and resources to defend his family’s interest in Hacienda Luisita as established by the speedy reaction by his Communications secretary Herminio Coloma, Jr.

“Mukhang buking si pangulong Aquino na ginagamit niya ang pwesto para ipagtanggol niya ang pribadong interes ng kanyang pamilya sa Hacienda Luisita.  Ang banggit ni secretary Coloma ay sundin ang due process of law, na kaya nga nag-file sa DOJ ang mga manggagawang bukid, at tandaan natin na ito, katulad ng DAR ay nasa kontrol na naman ni pangulong Aquino,” [President Aquino somehow confirmed that he is utilizing government institutions and resources to defend his family’s private interests in Hacienda Luisita.  As to secretary Coloma’s pronouncement to follow the due process of law, that is exactly why the farm workers filed complaints at the DOJ, but we should note that, similar to DAR, DOJ is under the control of president Aquino]  Hicap explained.

“Kaya hinihikayat naming si justice secretary Leila De Lima na aksyunan na mga kasong ito at sana ay maging independent siya, para kay secretary Coloma, mapapatunayan din ito ng mga manggagawang bukid at kasama akong magpapatunay sa mga ito,” [Hence, we urge justice secretary Leila De Lima to act on these cases and we hope that she would be impartial, and for secretary Coloma , the farm workers would be able to prove them (complaints), and I would stand as witness for them.] Hicap said. ###

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Unyon ng mga Manggagawa sa Agrikultura

(Agricultural Workers Union)

Philippines

Follow UMA Pilipinas on Twitter

Press Statement | Jennifer Laude hate crime Murder most foul, pathetic mendicancy like no other

Posted by Belarmino Dabalos Saguing
Rome, Ityaly October 15, 2015



Press Statement15 October 2014

  

We cannot perhaps add anything more to the universal condemnation and loud calls for justice for the grisly murder of Jennifer Laude. There is no legal nor moral justification for an apparent hate crime.

Yet the BS Aquino government is failing us again. It is not standing up for its own people despite the horrible beastly murder.  It is simply pathetic to grovel for custody of a suspect just to routinely bring him to justice.

You bellow grandiosely that you have legal jurisdiction over a suspect yet you peep with a whimper over a simple exercise of custody?

And the US is flouting all laws of decency and humanity for its own military interests. Shielding US Marine Private First Class Joseph Scott Pemberton is unmitigated callousness.

What if it were an American transgender and a Filipino soldier? The latter would be instantly renditioned by the US and thrown overboard from the docks.

Pfc Pemberton, USMC, uspected murderer of Jenny Laude

The nexus with scandalously one-sided "agreements" that institutionalize and legalize what are essentially master-slave arrangements like the so-called Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) and the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) on the one hand, and transgressions against our sovereignty, our laws, our environment, our dignity as a people and as human beings is patent as it is overt, on the other hand.

From Subic to Tubbataha, from Smith to Pemberton: it is one straight path to subservience and docility sanctified by legal gobbledygook and discombobulated by legal hermeneutics.

We told you so. These and other outrageous things are bound to happen. And will happen again.

But we will tell you again and again and again and again. Until lowly life forms camouflaged in elegant uniforms are brought to us for reckoning. Until you respect us as a people. Until you treat us as human beings. #

Reference:

Edre U. Olalia
NUPL Secretary General
+639175113373

POPE FRANCIS REPRIMANDS PHILIPPINE MAYOR

Posted by Belarmino Dabalos Saguing
Rome, italy october 13, 2014

OCTOBER 5, 2014 ADOBOCHRON 112 COMMENTS

http://adobochronicles.com/2014/10/05/pope-francis-reprimands-philippine-mayor/

Mayor Petilla of Palo, Leyte in the Philippines (photo: ABS-CBN News)

Vatican City, Italy (The Adobo Chronicles) – Pope Francis sent a strongly-worded letter to the mayor of Palo, Leyte in the Philippines, reprimanding her for attempting to hide the truth from the leader of the Roman Catholic Church.  The pope is scheduled to visit the Philippines next January and wants to meet with the victims devastated and rendered homeless by last year’s typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda).

Mayor Remedios Petilla of Palo wants to transfer 250 families living in bunk houses in Barangay Candahug to another place five kilometers away so they will not be very visible when Pope Francis visits the town in January. The families, who had been staying in the bunk houses in Candahug after their houses were destroyed by the supertyphoon on Nov. 8, 2013, would be transferred to other bunk houses in Barangay Tacuranga or permanent relocation sites ahead of the papal visit.

The transfer “is being fast tracked because of the scheduled visit of the Pope next year,” Petilla said

In his letter to Petilla, Pope Francis said, “What part of ‘visiting the typhoon victims’ do you not understand? That is the primary reason I am coming to the Philippines. Do not displace them just to impress me because I am not that easily impressed, especially by those who are not truthful like yourself.”

The Vatican is considering papal visit guidelines which now include banning Mayor Petilla from coming anywhere close to the pope when he visits Leyte.###