Press Release
August 31, 2009

Villar repatriates three "unlucky" OFWs from Oman

The remaining three of the so-called "Oman Unlucky 7" overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) illegally detained and maltreated in Muscat expressed relief over their safe arrival and unification with their families in the country.

Maribel Calisaan, Josephine Bilolo and Annaliza Caderero arrived with 77 other distressed Filipina migrant workers from the Middle East following Nacionalista Party President Manny Villar's facilitation and sponsorship of their fees and plane fares.

The "Oman Unlucky 7" refers to seven Filipinas who earlier suffered maltreatment in Muscat, and whose plight hugged the headlines after their respective husbands called for help in a press conference with Migrante International.

The OFWs applied for household work but were enlisted for IT jobs. Unqualified, they were forced to clean up the houses of Oman nationals for profit and locked them up in a basement after work.

"Binibigyan lamang po sila ng tatlong bote ng tubig na pinagsasaluhan nila sa isang araw para mabasa lang ang kanilang lalamunan at isang beses lang kung kumain sa loob ng isang araw," said Migrante chair Gary Martinez in a previous conference. He endorsed the case to the senator for immediate action.

Both Calisaan and Bilolo became ill due to inhumane treatment. Bilolo had fever while Calisaan contracted toxic goiter. Upon learning of their condition, Villar immediately called up the Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO) in Muscat, which arranged a medical checkup for the ill OFWs last July 13.

Caderero, the third "unlucky," tearfully recalled the miserable situation they faced, "Para kaming hayop kung ituring nila." "Marami po talagang salamat kay Senator Manny, at ganun din sa POLO at Migrante."

The 3 OFWs from Oman landed at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 1 at 11:10 a.m. via Gulf Air flight no. GF 154 with 77 OFWs on Aug. 26, and welcomed by Villar at the historic Laurel House in Shaw Boulevard.

The Villar-repatriated 80 OFWs came from Jordan (50 OFWs and 2 children), Syria (10), Saudi Arabia (17), and Oman (3), who converged in Bahrain, their stopover point.

The senator made possible their return by ironing out their cases, facilitating freedom from prison for a number, the cancellation of their penalties, while paying for other fees and all their plane fares.

"The government has the responsibility to assist OFWs in distress, wherever they may be. I set up the program "Sagip OFW" to help our government in this area. I urge our labor officials to look into the complaint of the Unlucky 7 and the cases of many others experiencing the same ordeal," Villar said.

"We are thankful that the OFWs made it safely to our shores," Villar said," but we are bothered by the growing number of OFWs who are running to our embassy shelters due to maltreatment and injustice."

The NP president has set up helpline "Sagip-OFW" for beleaguered OFWs to give them an avenue to air their plight for timely assistance, while batting for conducive economic conditions to expand opportunities in the country as a long-term solution.

Villar has also earlier repatriated distressed Filipino migrant workers from Riyadh, Jeddah, Abu Dhabi, Amman, Kuwait, Qatar, Oman, and Malaysia.

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