Aquino told to appoint Saudi envoy

ALARMED with the numerous cases of abuses and labor malpractices against Filipinos in Saudi Arabia, a migrant workers’ group urged President Benigno Aquino III to appoint an ambassador to the Middle Eastern country.

“OFWs in Saudi Arabia who have sent US$1.4 billion remittances and rank third in sending the most remittance to the Philippines deserve genuine service of a pro-OFW envoy with strong credentials and plentiful experience on various OFWs woes and concerns,” said Mario Ben, chairman of Migrante-Saudi Arabia.

There are more than one million Filipinos working in the largest Middle Eastern nation, data from the Labor department showed.

The Aquino administration has yet to find a replacement for Antonio Villamor, who has been ordered to vacate his post following the assumption of the new government in June last year.

Holding the ambassadorial position on a temporary basis is Consul Ezzadin Tago, who is now at the Philippine embassy in Riyadh.

While asking the President to rush the appointment of a new Saudi envoy, Ben hopes that Aquino will make a thorough decision and avoid political accommodation. (Virgil Lopez/Sunnex)