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Saturday, November 06, 2004
Tarongoy's recruiter to face gov't sanctions
By Jenny Molbog-Mendoza
THE agency that recruited abducted Dabawenyo Robert Teodore "Bobby" Tarongoy for overseas work will be sanctioned with either cancellation or suspension of its license, the Philippine Information Agency reported.
Lawyer Venchito Bangayan, overseas employment adjudicator of the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) Mindanao based in Davao City, said his office will impose the appropriate sanction against JS Contractor. He made the disclosure after his telephone conversation with POEA Mindanao head Francis Domingo.
He said the recruitment agency violated an existing government ban on the deployment of Filipino workers to Iraq. JS Contractor had recruited Tarongoy and several other applicants.
A JS Contractor insider, who requested not to be identified after a run-in with the media recently, cleared their office of any responsibility claiming they merely recruited Tarongoy, but did not deploy him.
"He left on his own," the woman said.
"April this year, he applied as an accountant for Satco (Saudi Arabian Trading Company) pero sa Iraq office nito. From the very first day na nag-apply siya alam niyang sa Iraq siya magtatrabaho. During that month, he was interviewed by the employer, then he was selected," the source said.
The source further explained that right after the selection, Tarongoy's papers were immediately endorsed to the head office of JS Contractor, Inc. But while Tarongoy was waiting for his papers and deployment to be processed, the national government ordered to ban all travels of OFWs to Iraq.
"So, hindi na nga namin na-process 'yung deployment niya kasi nga naabutan na sya ng ban. Pero noong May pa lang, may mga nakaalis na, siguro mga four or five, sa June, may isa. Noong July, doon natigil ang deployment kasi may ban na," the source said.
"Hindi siya niloko. Grabe ang explanations ng employer. The employer even asked them questions like: Will your wife allow you? Will your mother allow you? Does your wife know that you'll be working in Iraq? Kumbaga, full disclosure talaga ang nangyari," the source added.
The source also clarified that it was a representative of JS Contractor and an official of the Overseas Workers Welfare Office (Owwa) who accompanied Tarongoy's wife, Ivy Grace, to Manila right after it was confirmed that Tarongoy was the Filipino abducted in Baghdad, Iraq.
It was Labor Secretary Patricia Sto. Tomas who ordered that Tarongoy's wife be brought to Manila, through the Owwa 11 here. The Owwa then coordinated with JS Contractor to locate and escort Ivy Grace to Manila.
It just happened that Secretary Jesus G. Dureza was in the same flight, the source said.
"Nagkita sa airport 'yung taga-Owwa at si Secretary Dureza. Nilapitan niya si Secretary at ipinakilala si Ivy bilang asawa ni Bobby. Tapos 'yon, sumama si Secretary hanggang makarating doon sa press conference," the source said.
Meanwhile, Owwa 11 officer Zenobia Caro said they have activated the psycho-social component of the Regional Council for Overseas Filipino Workers Reintegration Program to assist the family of Tarongoy.
She said a social worker visits the family of Tarongoy from time to time to talk to them and see to their concerns and needs.
A press statement released by Owwa Administrator Marianito Roque, official spokesperson of the Department of Labor and Employment on the hostage situation involving Tarongoy, confirmed that Tarongoy worked as an accountant since July 26, 2004 for Satco.
It said the Satco is a Saudi Arabian firm, which does catering and supply work for the US base n Qatar.
Roque in the statement said they are aware Tarongoy may have been in Iraq irregularly as his employment documents did not undergo processing at the POEA but they consider him a regular OFW and are exerting all efforts to effect his immediate release.
He said they are on monitoring mode at the moment, coordinating all efforts with the appropriate agencies of government the Department of Foreign Affairs and its overseas posts in Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait and Iraq, Dole, Philippine Overseas Labor Offices, and Owwa's welfare offices in various countries for the purpose of gathering as much information as possible on the whereabouts and situation of Tarongoy.
Roque said their actions are consistent with the country's contingency plan for any crisis situation in Iraq.
He reiterated the call of Dole Secretary Patricia Sto. Tomas to the families of all OFWs who have left the country irregularly to contact the Owwa and provide the office with specific or particular information on their loved ones if they happen to be in Iraq so they could be given the necessary assistance if needed.(With reports from PIA/PDB)
(November 6, 2004 issue)
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