THE families of seven Bacolodnons who worked as drivers in Dammam, Saudi Arabia have asked the assistance of the City Government and Congressman-elect Anthony Golez to repatriate their family members.
Liberty Berueda, mother of overseas Filipino worker (OFW) Manny Berueda, and three others met with acting Mayor Jude Thaddeus Sayson Wednesday regarding the sad fate of their kin.
Along with Berueda who are presently detained in Saudi were Oliver F. Lanza, Reynold P. Diosana, Ronilo V. Dela Torre, Simplecio E. Velasco, William C. Tan and Zaldy T. Candeluna.
According to the victims, they left last September 2009 through Pert/CPM Manpower Exponent Inc. and worked at Sad Sahmi Al-Hajri & Partner Co.
In their letter to their parents and relatives, the OFWs claimed they have not received their salary for two months except 200 Riyals.
They worked 12 hours every day from Saturday to Thursday instead of the eight hours stated in their contracts.
They were also made to re-sign a three-year contract despite the two-year contract they earlier signed with their employer through the recruitment agency in the Philippines.
The victims further stated that whenever there's an engine trouble, the repair cost is being charged to them.
They were also made to illegally take sand and gravel in a privately owned area and be brought to their site.
Some of them were caught and jailed.
They complained to their manager and they were told: "It's okay. No problem. We can take you out." But after out of jail, the daily routine still goes on. This daily experience of being frightened to be caught by the police cause major problem to our mental and physical health, the victims said.
They were made to stay in a "barracks" situated at the back of the Dammam cemetery, which is not fit for human habitation.
There are no water, no power and very poor ventilation, they said. The experience prompted them to flee for their safety.
Department of Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Esteban B. Conejos Jr. wrote an extremely urgent letter to Riyadh relative to the request of the families for the repatriation of the distressed OFWs in Dammam.
Along with the demand, appropriate assistance for the repatriation of the OFWS was also extended.
Sayson said the recruitment agency informed him that they provided food assistance to the distressed OFWs. But the concerned family members who were at the Sayson's office denied it.
The acting chief executive said the incident must be investigated to determine whether the agency's permit will be cancelled or not.
On the other hand, Golez said he had already talked with Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto Romulo and Office of the Undersecretary for Migrant Workers Affairs Executive Director Rico Foz, who said they are in close coordination with the Philippine Embassy in Saudi.
Meanwhile, the victims' employers had filed counter-charges against them at the Dammam court for certain violations which were not yet stated.
Golez said they will look deeper on the case to determine if the agency had committed bridge of contract. If proven, the agency will be the one to shoulder the victims' fare back to the country, he added.
The problem right now is how to retrieve their visas and passports since these were in the possessions of their respective employers, Golez said. (Carla N. Canet and George M. dela Cruz)