Friday, August 06, 2004 Sangil: Owwa must take care of Mr. Bayani By Jay Sangil City Councilor
The writer is the newest member of the Angeles City Council. As a mediaperson, he used to write for the Philippine Daily Inquirer, We Forum, Agence France Press, Kyodo News Service, Angeles Sun and other foreign, national and local entities. He was also a columnist for Sun•Star during its formative years. He has held positions in various civic clubs and press organizations like the Angeles City Kuliat Jaycees, the Pampanga Press Club, National Union of Journalists in the Philippines and the Clark Field Association of Journalists.
(The following is a privilege speech made by Councilor Sangil before members of the City Council during their regular session on July 27, 2004.)
I rise on the question of privilege. The smoke has cleared. The euphoria is gone. The national interest as well as the attendant entertainment to Angelo's kidnapping and homecoming is dying. But somewhere in the Middle East, another Angelo has been left to fend for himself. Another Angelo has been neglected and unattended by the same people who poured out government resources to the accidental hero that was Angelo dela Cruz.
And he is simply not just another Angelo. He is an ANGELEÑO. For this reason, we in this August body should call on concerned agencies to know the real situation of our kabalen - Rolando Bayani, a resident of Barangay Lourdes Northwest.
If I may refresh the memory of everybody here, Angelo dela Cruz crossed the border of Saudi Arabia into Iraq in a convoy. Among other Filipinos he traveled with to Iraq was Rolando Bayani.
If I may again refresh your memory, Dela Cruz, Bayani and other Filipinos in that convoy were ambushed by Iraqi militants, which led to the abduction of Angelo. The story as hyped by the media took more than a dramatic fold, it took a twist that gave birth to Angelo as a national icon.
But more than the triumph of the Filipinos in Angelo, there still lies a story of defeat in Bayani. Not too many of us Filipinos know the fate he has suffered. Not too many among us Filipinos know that he now lies half blind in a hospital with the injury he suffered in that ambuscade.
With this, I call on my colleagues and our kabalens to draw government's attention toward Mr. Bayani. Gone is the euphoria, gone is the excitement over Angelo. It is now high time for government agencies to pour out equal attention to hundred more OFWs who are suffering in the Middle East just to eke out a living.
Mr. Bayani is one of them. It is lamentable that government agencies such as the OWWA rode on the crest of popularity and even the showbiz-like attention that was given to Angelo and totally failed to give even a whimper in the case of Mr. Bayani.
The OWWA has neglected Mr. Bayani while it has heralded itself here as the champion of OFWs. Probably, yes, it is so in handling the case of Angelo where limelight of international exposure has been focused on. It has posed itself well under the probing eyes of media, taking every chance to grandstand at the expense of Angelo.
I therefore call on OWWA to start doing its work and attend to the needs of Mr. Bayani and other OFWs who continue to suffer or are in constant threat and pain while they work for a living.
It must coordinate with the hospital where Mr. Bayani was taken in and report to the public the real status of our fallen kabalen. It must also continue to assure the relatives that Mr. Bayani is in good hands and now out of danger. It should also be made to assure the relatives that not a single centavo will be paid by Mr. Bayani for his medical care.
We are happy for the safe return of Mr. Angelo dela Cruz, in fact, we join the whole nation in celebrating this triumph of Filipino will. But our happiness will be more complete and fulfilling once we have learned that Mr. Bayani is being taken care of and that he will also return safe and sound in the arms of his family soon.
Thank you very much.
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