BALANGA CITY — The Bataan prelate on Friday expressed support to government’s ban on the deployment of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) to Kuwait, following the death of a domestic helper.
The Philippine Overseas Employment Agency (POEA) has declared a partial ban on the sending of workers, specially newly-hired household service workers, to the Gulf state after the death of domestic helper Jeanelyn Villavende in the hands of her employers.
“We stand and support the actions being taken by government officials,” Bishop Ruperto Santos of the Diocese of Balanga said.
He said that the killing of another OFW in Kuwait was a clear and repeated violation of the May 2018 agreement between the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs and Kuwait for the protection of Filipino workers.
“The contract demands fuller and transparent investigation and strict implementation of justice. With the tragic loss of another innocent life, it means that our OFWs are not protected, their rights are not promoted and their lives are always in constant danger,” the bishop said.
The Philippine government imposed a total deployment ban in Kuwait on February 12, 2018 after reports of maltreatment of Filipino workers in Kuwait, especially the death of Joanna Demafelis whose body was found in a freezer.
The ban was lifted after DFA signed an arrangement with the Gulf state on May 2018 that will protect Filipino workers.
“It is just and proper that our DFA review the agreement and government impose the deployment ban,” Santos said.
He said that Filipino priests headed by Father Resty Ogsimer, executive secretary of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines – Episcopal Commission on Migrants and Itinerant People (CBCP-ECMI), are assisting the Villavende family.
“Let us always pray for our OFWs,” Santos who is CBCP-ECMI chair said.
