Aquino told to appoint Saudi envoy
-A A +AWednesday, January 12, 2011
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)
Local news
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