Category: Campaigns

  • Justice for Mailyn Conde Sinambong!

    Justice for Mailyn Conde Sinambong!

    PRESS STATEMENT
    28 September 2018
    Filipina murdered in Sweden

    Justice for Mailyn Conde Sinambong!

    Migrante Europe strongly condemns the brutal killing of Mailyn Conde Sinambong in her residence in Kista, Stockholm, Sweden at 11:30 in the evening of Sunday, September 23.

    According to initial reports, the suspect is Mailyn’shusband, Steve Aron Bakre Aalam, a Swedish national, who confessed to the crime and is now in the custody of Swedish authorities on probable grounds suspected of murder.

    Mother’s cry for help

    According to Migrante Central Visayas Coordinator Connie Bragas Regalado, the mother of the victim, Maria Conde Sinambong, accompanied by her relatives, visited the Migrante office in Cebu to report the incident and seek help.

    The family revealed that there were already incidents of violence by the suspect against Mailyn and their son when they were still residing in Cebu, Philippines.

    In 2010, the Mailyn, Aalam and their two children, transferred to Sweden. Just newly arrived in Sweden, Mailyn was reportedly beaten by her husband. But according to Maria, her daughter Mailyn said very little regarding her real situation.

    The family demands an immediate investigation surrounding the death of Mailyn and is calling for the Duterte government to provide assistance in immediately repatriating Mailyn’s remains.

    Meanwhile, Migrante Europe has already communicated with its network in Sweden and the Philippine Consul in Sweden, with hopes of receiving news and urgent assistance regarding the death of Mailyn.

    REFERENCE:

    Revd Fr. Herbert F. Fadriquela Jr.
    Chairperson, Migrante Europe
    [email protected]

  • Pahayag ng pakikiisa at pagkundena sa marahas na dispersal at pagaresto sa mga manggagawa ng NutriAsia at mga taga-suporta

    Pahayag ng pakikiisa at pagkundena sa marahas na dispersal at pagaresto sa mga manggagawa ng NutriAsia at mga taga-suporta

    Nagkakaisang Pilipino sa Pransya

    02 Agosto 2018

     

    Ipinapaabot namin ang aming pagkundena sa naganap na marahas na dispersal at pagaresto sa mga manggagawa ng NutriAsia Inc. noong July 30, 2018 sa kanilang picketline sa Marilao, Bulacan. Marami ang nasugatan sa naturang insidente kabilang na si Leticia Espino at labingsiyam ang iligal na inaresto kabilang dito ang limang mamamahayag.

    Pebrero pa noong ipinagutos ng Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) sa NutriAsia na gawing regular ang mahigit sa 900 na manggagawa nito matapos mapatunayan na ang kumpanya ay pumasok sa labor-only contracting practice. Naitala ng DOLE na lumabag ang NutriAsia sa iba pang labor laws at general labor standards kabilang na ang iligal na deduction para sa uniporme ng mga manggagawa at iba pang underpayment sa kanilang regular na sahod.

    Dahil sa hindi makatarungang kalagayan sa pagtratrabaho, kontraktwal na estado, mababang pasahod at iligal na pagtanggal sa 50 empleyado ng NutriAsia, pumutok ang welga ng mga manggagawa na pinangunahan ng Nagkakaisang Manggagawa ng NutriAsia o NMN noong June 02, 2018. Nagpipiket sila upang mapakinggan ang kanilang mga panawagan na maging regular sa trabaho.

    Kami sa Nagkakaisang Pilipino sa Pransya (NPSP) ay sumusuporta sa pakikibaka ng mga manggagawa sa NutriAsia dahil hindi rin ito nalalayo sa aming konkretong sitwasyon na naghahangad na magkaroon ng regular na estado sa ibang bansa at makilala ang aming pagtatrabaho at ambag sa lipunan.

    Nananawagan kaming gawing regular ang mga manggagawa ng NutriAsia at mapanagot ang mga security personnel at ang Philippine National Police (PNP) na magkasabwat sa marahas na dispersal. Dapat ding managot ang mismong NutriAsia Inc. sa kanilang makahayop na pagsasamantala at pagmamalupit sa mga manggagawa.

    Mabuhay ang mga manggagawa ng NutriAsia!

    Mabuhay ang mga Migranteng lumalaban at nakikiisa!

    Mabuhay ang nakikibakang Pilipino saan man sa mundo!

  • Ulat ng Taumbayan 2018 #SONA 2018

    Ulat ng Taumbayan 2018 #SONA 2018

    Maigting na nakikilahok sa makasaysayang pagbubuklod ng mga nagtatanggol sa demokrasya ang iba’t- ibang chapter ng Migrante sa Europa. Ngayong ika-23 ng Hulyo, itinakdang araw upang magulat si Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte sa kanyang State of the Nation Address (SONA) , inilulunsad din ng Migrante Europe sa ilalim ng  United People’s SONA ang paglalahad ng tunay na kalagayan ng mamamayang Pilipino at sa paggigiit ng mga batayang kahilingin at panawagan ng sambayang Pilipino.

    Kasama kami sa pagkilos ng libong mamamayang Pilipino na pagod na sa patuloy na pang-aapi at pagapak sa ating mga karapatan at kalayaan.

    UMANGAT MIGRANTE -ROMA at GABRIELA – ROMA

    Mahigpit na nakikiisa ang UMANGAT-MIGRANTE Roma at GABRIELA Roma sa UNITED PEOPLES SONA para ilantad at labanan ang lahat ng mga anti-mahihirap at anti-mamamayang patakaran ng Rehimeng Us-Duterte.

    Sa loob 2 taong panunungkulan ni Duterte lalong tumindi ang kahirapan ng nakararaming Pilipino, lahat ng kanyang mga pangakong pagbabago ay napako.

    Nagpapatuloy at lalong tumaas ang mga presyo ng mga bilihin dulot ng Train, nagpapatuloy ang kontrakwalisayon at mababang sahod ng mga manggagawa, laganap pa rin ang matinding katiwalian at paglabag sa karapatang pantao.

    Patuloy pa rin ang EXPORT LABOR Policy at sapilitang pangingibang bayan ng mga Migranteng Pilipino dahil sa kawalan ng tunay na programa para makalikha ng Trabaho sa pinas na may disenteng at nakakabuhay na sahod.

    Ang pagtalikod ng rehimen sa usapang pangkapayapaan ay pagtalikod sa tunay at komrehensibong reporma na kailangan para maiangat ang kabuhayan ng nakakaraming naghihirap na Sambayang Pilipino.

    Sa halip na tugunan ang ugat ng kahirapan ng Sambayanang Pilipino ay tanging mga pan-sariling kapakanan lamang ang kanilang inaatupag at patuloy ang rehimeng Duterte sa pagiging sunod-sunuran at pagpapakatuta sa mga amo nitong Imperyalistang US at China.

    Hindi kailanman maasahan ng mga mamamayang Pilipino ang isang gobyernong walang malasakit at paggalang sa kanyang mga mamamayan, nararapat lamang na singilin ang rehimeng duterte sa mga napakong pangako nito na mga pagbabago.

    Mamamayang Pilipino Magkaisa, Tutulan Labanan ang kontra Mamamayang Patakaran!

    Taas presyo dulot ng TRAIN IBASURA! END LABOR EXPORT POLICY!    TRABAHO SA PINAS HINDI SA LABAS! TAMA NA! SOBRA NA! WAKASAN NA!

     

    UGNAYANG PILIPINO SA BELGIUM

    Sa okasyon ng ikatlong SONA sa Lunes, ay inaasahang ipagmamalaki ng rehimeng US-Duterte ang mga programa nito, laban sa kriminalidad at korapsyon, at mangangako ito ng kasaganaan at kapayapaan.Inaasahan ding itutulak nito ang mga maniobra para mapanatili ang sarili sa pwesto.

    Subalit sa mga kababayang kaugnay ng UPB (Ugnayang Pilipino sa Belgium) dito sa Belgium, lalong lumilinaw na ang istilo ng pamamahala ng gubyernong Duterte ay patungo sa hayagang pasismo. Ito ay ang lantarang paggamit ng dahas at pananakot para maipatupad ang mga kontra-mamayang mga patakaran at batas.

    May mga kasapi ng UPB mismo at mga kakilala dito sa Europa ang may direktang karanasan ng paglabag sa karapatang pantao sa pagsasakatuparan ng “ War on Drugs” ni Duterte. Sa mga maikling pagbabakasyon sa Pilipinas, marami sa mga migranteng Pilipino ang nakapansin sa mga malalakihang proyektong infrastructures, mga condominions, mga resorts at iba pang pangturistang mga facilities. Sa kabila ng ipinagyayabang ng “Build. Build. Build.” na programang ito ng kasalukuyang gubyerno, saksi din sila sa mga paglaban ng mga apektadong mamamayan sa tipo ng “bungkalan, at kampuhan “ sa kanayunan.

    Sa kabila nito, patuloy pa rin tayo sa pagpapadala ng euro sa ating pamilya at sa iba pang humihiling ng ating pangpinansyal na tulong. Ito ay ginagawa natin mulat sapol tayo ay nakapag-abroad hanggang sa ngayon dahil walang tunay na pag-unlad na nagaganap at magaganap sa ilalim ng pasistang rehimen. Bagkus ay lalong madidiin sa kahirapan at ating pamilya sa Pilipinas dahil sa mga pagtaas ng presyo ng mga bilihin at buwis, at kawalan ng trabaho at pagpapatuloy ng patakarang kontraktwalisasyon. Iniulat ngayon sa isang survey ( 21, July 2018-SWS) na dumami ang mga Pilipinong nagdeklara na sila’y mahirap.

    Sa kabila ng libo- libong pinatay sa ngalan ng “War on Drugs”, ay bigo ang programang ito para sugpuin ang malalang problema sa ipinagbabawal na gamot at iba pang kriminalidad, na sa totoo lang ay mga krimeng bunsod ng malawakang kahirapan at kawalan ng opurtunidad na makahanap ng disenteng kabuhayan. Bagkus ay nagbunga ito ng malawakang paglabag sa karapatang pantao, at sukdulang pagpatay kahit sa mga musmos pang mga kabataan.

    Maliban sa mga sangkot sa drugs, sa kanayunan ay patuloy din ang rehimeng ito sa pasistang pag-atake sa mga inaaping mga maralitang naghahangad ng pagbabago. Sa kasalukuyan ay umaabot na sa 134 na mga magsasaka ang biktima ng EJK. May mga panibagong ulat din ng ebakwasyon ng mga Lumad sa Mindanao.

    Lalong lumilinaw sa mamamayan ang tunay nakatangian ng gobyernong ito. Wala itong pagkakaiba sa mga nauna pang mga rehimen. Nagpapatuloy itong representatibo at tagapagtanggol ng interes ng iilang mga mayayaman at sunodsunuran sa kagustuhan ng mga dayuhan, sukdulang isakripisyo ang soberenya ng Pilipinas kapalit ng ilang trilyong utang panlabas.

    Walang matatamong pagbabago at pag-unlad sa ilalim ng rehimeng US-Duterte. Walang mapagpipilian ang sambayang Pilipino kundi ang umasa sa sariling lakas para baguhin ang kanilang kalagayan. Mas lalo ang pangangailangan sa ngayon, higit kailanman ang kumilos para sa tunay na kapayapan at pag-unlad. Higit na isulong at igiit ang mga hakbangin para wakasan ang ugat ng kahirapan at kaguluhan. Manawagan para sa pagpapatupad ng tunay na reporma sa lupa at pambansang industriyalisasyon. Sukdulang tumugon sa panawagang patalsikin sa pwesto ang pasistang rehimeng ito kung kinakailangan.
    TRAIN LAW NI DUTERTE, IBASURA!! PAHIRAP SA MGA OFW AT PAMILYA
    #NOTOCHARTERCHANGE
    #ENDTYRANNY #ENDPLUNDER

    MIGRANTE GERMANY

     

  • Global Action Day: Free Mary Jane Veloso

    Global Action Day: Free Mary Jane Veloso

    London: Isang misa ng pasasalamat ang isinagawa para kay Mary Jane Veoloso. Nagkaroon din ng talakayan sa pagbibigay ng update sa kanyang kaso na ginanap sa   Saint John Evangelist Parish Filipino Community at sa mga miyembro ng Legion of Mary ng Mt. Carmel Church of Our Lady Victories.

    Italy: Nakikiisa ang mga miyembro ng Umangat-Migrante, Gabriela Rome at Migrante Caserta sa panawagan para sa Global Day of Action for Mary Jane Veloso para makamtan nito ang hustisya at kalayaan.

    Save the life of Mary Jane Veloso!
    Let her Speak the truth!
    Justice and Freedom for Mary Jane Veloso!

    France: Nakikibahagi ang Nagkakaisang Pilipino sa Pransya o NPSP sa araw na ito sa panawagan na iligtas at palayain si Mary Jane Veloso. Tatlong taon na ang nakakaraan noong napigilan ang pagpataw ng kamatayan kay Veloso sa pamamagitan ng firing squad sa Indonesia. Hindi ito itinuloy para mabigyan siya ng pagkakataon na patunayan ang kaniyang pagiging inosente sa kasong drug trafficking. Ngunit noong nakaraang Enero 2018 naglabas ng desisyon ang Court of Appeals (CA) sa Pilipinas para hadlangan ang pagtanggap ng testimonya ni Veloso mula sa piitan sa Yogyakarta laban kina Maria Cristina Sergio at sa live-in partner nitong si Julius Lacanilao, ang mga inaakusahang illegal recruiter ni Veloso.

    Ngayong ika-29 ng Abril, ikatatlong anibersaryo ng pagkakaligtas kay Mary Jane mula sa kamatayan, iginigiit namin sa gobyernong Duterte na bigyang pansin ang kaso ni Mary Jane at gawin ang lahat ng makakaya upang mailigtas at mapalaya siya.

    Batay sa datos ng Department of Foreign Affairs o DFA noong September 2017, mayroong 130 Filipinos na nasa death row sa buong mundo, 137 ang nahatulan ng habang buhay na pagkakakulong, at 626 naman ang iniimbestigahan dahil sa iba’t ibang pagkakasala.

    Bilang mga migrante at kapwa Pilipino, nais naming ipakita kay Mary Jane at sa kanyang pamilya ang aming mahigpit na pagsuporta at paghahangad na sana’y makamtan na nila ang katarungan. Sana’y mapalaya na siya upang makasama niya ang kanyang pamilya.

    Hindi man namin naranasan ang kanyang sinapit batid namin ang hirap na malayo sa sariling pamilya, ang makipagsapalaran sa ibang bansa at maging bulnerable sa pangaabuso. Hindi rin dapat mailayo na mapagusapan ang ugat ng suliranin ng malawakan at pwersahang paglikas ng mga Pilipino sa sariling bayan. Patuloy kaming nanawagan ng solusyon sa ugat ng problema, magkaroon ng sapat na trabaho at nakakabuhay na sahod sa loob ng bansa nang sa gayo’y hindi na makipagsapalaran ang mga Pilipino na kalimitang nagiging biktima sa ibayong dagat.

    #LetMaryJaneSpeak
    #FreeMaryJaneVeloso
    #StopLaborExportPolicy
    #TrabahosaPinasHindisaLabas
    #GlobalActionDay

     

  • Let Mary Jane Veloso Speak the Truth!

    Let Mary Jane Veloso Speak the Truth!

    Last January 25, 2018, different Migrante Italy chapters brave the cold to send a strong message to President Rodrigo Duterte and the Philippine Court of Appeals to let Mary Jane Veloso Speak the Truth! Allow her to testify against her traffickers!

  • Filipino migrants condemn the murder of Fr. Tito Paez

    Filipino migrants condemn the murder of Fr. Tito Paez

    Press Statement | 04 December 2017

    LONDON – Migrante-Europe condemns in the strongest possible terms the murder of Father Marcelito “Tito” Paez, Central Luzon coordinator of the Rural Missionaries of the Philippines (RMP-CL), earlier today, 04 December 2017. Father Tito was driving along a road in Jaen town, Nueva Ecija, at around 8:00 pm Manila time, when he was attacked by armed assailants on a motorcycle. He was rushed to a hospital in San Leonardo town but died while being treated.

    Earlier today, Father Tito facilitated the release of political prisoner Rommel Tucay from the Nueva Ecija Provincial Jail in Cabanatuan City. Tucay, an organizer of the Peasant Alliance of Central Luzon (AMGL) was arrested from his house in March this year by elements of the 56th Infantry Battalion of the Philippine Army.

    Father Tito belongs to the Diocese of San Jose City and was the former parish priest of Nampicuan and Guimba towns, in Nueva Ecija province. He is well known for his progressive advocacies. In the 1980s he was one of the leaders of the Central Luzon Alliance for a Sovereign Philippines (CLASP), which campaigned for the removal of the US military bases in Central Luzon and other parts of the country. He also took active part in the campaign against the Bataan Nuclear Power Plant. 

    For leading church activities for the poor and other victims of human rights violations, Father Tito had been threatened and harassed by elements of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and paramilitary groups under past governments, especially that of Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. Father Tito is the first Roman Catholic priest to be assassinated under the Rodrigo

    Duterte government. In addition, human rights group KARAPATAN reported as of October 2017 that there are 104 cases of political killings, four massacres, 20 incidents of forced evacuation among the Lumads, and 17 aerial bombings under the Duterte administration.

    We call on the Duterte government to uphold the rule of law and go after these dastardly armed elements targeting the civilian population. We demand that the perpetrators of these heinous crimes be identified, arrested, prosecuted and punished to the full extent of the law.

    We express our deepest sympathies to the family, friends and colleagues of Father Tito. The legacy of his service to the poor and downtrodden will live on in the hearts of the people.

    We call on migrant Filipinos and friends of the Filipino people in Europe to heighten our vigilance against the ever-increasing brutality of the Duterte government. Let us join the Filipino people in the home country and in many parts of the world on 10 December 2017, the International Human Rights Day to condemn the increasing fascist character of the Duterte government. Let us gather in front of the Philippine Embassies and Consular Offices in the countries in Europe to continue raising our voices against these atrocities. With our linked arms, let us strengthen even more our solidarity with the Filipino people in their continuing fight for genuine democracy, economic and social development and national liberation. 

    Justice for Father Marcelito “Tito” Paez!
    Justice for all victims of political killings in the Philippines!
    Justice for all victims of human rights violations in the Philippines!

  • Migrante Europe thumbs down new OFW ID

    Migrante Europe thumbs down new OFW ID

    PRESS STATEMENT
    18 July 2017

    Filipino migrants’ alliance Migrante-Europe today expressed their strong disapproval of the new identification card to be issued by the Philippines’ Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) to overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), saying that the IDs will not be issued free of charge, contrary to previous DOLE statements.

    It was earlier announced by DOLE Secretary Silvestro Bello III that the OFW ID, which will be called iDOLE, will be given “to all bona fide OFWs at no cost”.

    “This will serve as the OFW’s Overseas Employment Certificate (OEC)… so they don’t have to go to the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA),” he added.

    For years, Migrante International and migrants advocacy groups had been fighting for the scrapping of the OEC (Overseas Employment Certificate). The OEC was a requirement for every OFW who leaves the country, burdening them with additional unjust and excessive costs.

    In August 2016, the POEA finally scrapped the OEC for returning OFWs and those hired through an employment agency’s in-house recruitment facility.

    The so-called iDOLE was launched on 12 July. Bello described the ID as a major initiative of the Duterte administration in addressing the needs of the OFWs and the best gift of the president to migrant Filipinos.

    “The processing of the iDOLE would be shouldered by the employers; hence, OFWs need not pay for the cost of the ID, which would be delivered by PhilPost to their respective addresses,” DOLE announced in a statement.

    “We are disappointed that we need to pay for the OFW ID! Is this the ‘best gift’ that Duterte has for us?” decried Fr. Herbert Fadriquela Jr, Chairperson of Migrante-Europe.

    On 15 July, it was reported that Filipino migrant workers in the United Arab Emirates tried to apply for the OFW ID through the online iDOLE portal https://ofw.idole.ph/. They were surprised to find out that they were being charged PhP501 pesos plus PhP200 pesos for delivery fee (PhP700 is about €13).

    OFW ID card (e-Card) 2002
    Overseas Filipinos still recall that in May 2002, the POEA began to issue OFW e-Cards to Filipinos who went back home on vacation. The e-Cards can also be used as ATM cards in the Philippines. The then government of President Gloria Arroyo justified that the e-Cards will speed up the delivery of services and benefits to the OFWs. To get an e-Card, overseas Filipinos were encouraged to renew their payments for the OWWA membership and avail of the benefits immediately.

    However, many believed that the e-Card was just one way of legitimizing the $25 OWWA membership fee, which has become mandatory for OFWs. This was despite the provisions of
    Republic Act 8042 which clearly state that an OFW can opt not to be a member of the OWWA.

    “We can do without a new OFW ID. We urge all member organizations of Migrante-Europe and other concerned migrant groups to reject the OFW ID and to join our call to end state exaction on overseas Filipinos!” Fr. Herbert concluded.

    Reference: Father Herbert Fadriquela, Jr. email: [email protected]

  • Migrants, refugees to hold Berlin Speak Out Street Event vs. GFMD

    Migrants, refugees to hold Berlin Speak Out Street Event vs. GFMD

    [BERLIN, 26 June 2017] Nothing About Us, Without Us! Migrants and refugees from Europe and around the world will hold the SPEAK OUT STREET EVENT on Wednesday, 28 June, in Berlin, Germany, as a counter-action to the UN Global Forum on Migration and Development and as an activity of the 7th International Assembly of Migrants and Refugees (IAMR7).

    The 28th of June 2017 is the official opening of the 10th Summit Meeting of the Global Forum on Migration and Development (GFMD). It will be attended by high­level and senior government policy makers, and will talk about issues and policies on migration and social development. Those who are directly affected by these policies — the migrants and refugees – are not part of the GFMD. They and their allies are organizing a counter-event and will gather at the Brandenburg Gate at 9:00am for the SPEAK OUT STREET EVENT. At around noontime, they will march to the venue of the GFMD Summit at the German Federal Foreign Office.

    The migrant and refugee communities will claim their space and assert their right to be seen and heard. It is important to give space to the voices that challenge the legitimacy and capacity of the GFMD to effectively address the problems and respond adequately to the challenges of migration and development. These grassroots and frontline communities will share their perspectives and solutions to the problems confronting them and engage with policy­makers in the parliament of the streets, bearing witness to their effective exclusion from decision­making processes that affect them principally but which take place behind closed doors.

    The 10th GFMD Summit is taking place amidst a global migration and refugee crisis that has witnessed the flight of millions of people fleeing extreme poverty, from countries destroyed by resource wars and wars of aggression, and devastated by the impacts of climate change.

    Under the guise of creating “legal, orderly and safe migration pathways and channels”, discriminatory and racist policies of pre­selection allow only ‘highly­skilled and knowledge migrants’ to access and enter the territories of European Union member states. This right is denied to majority of those who are the most impoverished and who seek a better life, or those who are victims of various forms of persecution.

    This policy also effectively discriminates and criminalizes the majority of migrants and refugees who have already entered and established their right of abode in the European Union. Taking place in Germany where its schizophrenic policy has received close to a million migrants and asylum-seekers in 2015, at the same time as it prepares to deport over 200,000 migrants, among them, the undocumented, the ‘economic migrants’ and rejected asylum‐seekers. Those profiled as ‘irregulars’ face arrest, detention and massive deportation.

    The SPEAK OUT STREET EVENT will send a strong message to the high-level and senior government policy makers as well as the general public regarding the continued marginalization of refugees, migrants and immigrants affected by forced migration and human trafficking. Spearheading the event is the International Migrants Alliance (IMA), in cooperation with the Asia Pacific Mission for Migrants (APMM), GABRIELA Germany, IBON International, the International League of Peoples’ Struggle, the International Women’s Alliance, MIGRANTE Europe, and supported by Churches Witnessing With Migrants (CWWM), COURAGE, Coalition Against Trump, Democracy in Europe Movement 25 – Berlin, Die Linke International,  and Solidarity International. The SPEAK OUT STREET EVENT is an activity of the 7th International Assembly of Migrants and Refugees (IAMR7).

  • Pakikiisa ng mga Migrante sa Pransya sa Mindanawons at bawat Pilipino

    Pakikiisa ng mga Migrante sa Pransya sa Mindanawons at bawat Pilipino

    Nagkakaisang Pilipino sa Pransya

    Pahayag ng Pakikiisa

    May 27, 2017

    Kaming mga migrante dito sa Pransya ay nagpapaabot ng simpatiya at pakikiisa sa mamamayan ng Marawi at sa buong sambayanang Pilipino. Malayo man sa bansang Pilipinas, hindi maalis ang aming pangamba para sa seguridad ng ating mga kababayan na naaapektuhan ng nagaganap na palitan ng putukan sa paggitan ng Maute group at militar. Mahigpit kaming nakikiisa hindi lamang sa mga taga-Mindanao bagkus ay sa lahat ng Pilipino saan mang sulok ng Pilipinas at sa buong mundo dahil ngayon mas kinakailangan ang pagbubuklod-buklod at hindi ang pagkakahati-hati.

    Nais din naming ipahayag ang aming pangamba at umaapela sa mga kinauukulan na huwag umabuso sa kapangyarihan matapos magdeklara ng Martial Law sa buong kapuluan ng Mindanao. Masakit para sa aming mga migrante na malayo sa sariling bayan at mas lalo pang sumisidhi ang aming pangungulila at pangamba na makita na nadadamay ang mga ordinaryong mamamayan, lumikas sa kanilang tirahan at nanganganib ang kanilang kabuhayan at mismong mga buhay dahil naiipit sa nagaganap na sagupaan.

    Kinikilala namin ang mabilis na naging aksyon ng Pangulong Duterte na bumalik ng bansa para alamin ang sitwasyon kasabay nito ay ang pagapela na masusi pang pag-aralan ang bawat kaganapan. Matiyak sana na hindi magiging daan ang pagdedeklara ng Martial law para tumaas ang bilang ng mga pagabuso sa karapatang pantao.

    Para sa bawat Pilipino, nahaharap muli tayo sa panahon na kinakailangan ng masusing pagaaral sa bawat impormasyong lumalabas sa telebisyon at social media. Alamin ang tunay na ugat ng kaguluhan sa ating bansa. Balikan ang kasaysayan sa ugat ng pagkakaroon ng kaguluhan at terorismo at alamin ang malalim na kasagutan o solusyon.

    Panawagan naming mga migrante ang pagkakaroon ng pangmatagalan at makatarungang kapayapaan sa bansang Pilipinas. Lupa para sa mga magsasaka at pambansang industriyalisasyon sa bawat mamayang Pilipino.

    Marie Mercado
    Secretary General, NPSP 
    Email: [email protected] 
    Mobile No. (+33) 771808910 
    
    Revd Fr. Herbert F. Fadriquela Jr. 
    Chairperson, Migrante Europe 
    Chaplain to the Filipino Community Diocese of Leicester Church of England 
    Email: [email protected] 
    Mobile No. +447456042156 
    
    Ann Brusola 
    Secretary General, Migrante Europe 
    Email: [email protected] 
    Mobile No. (+39) 3278825544

  • Migrants in Europe laud 10-year passport validity but rebuff DFA double price plan

    Migrants in Europe laud 10-year passport validity but rebuff DFA double price plan

    PRESS STATEMENT
    Migrante Europe
    22 May 2017

     
    Migrant Filipinos in Europe strongly rejected the announcement on Thursday of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) that new passports with a 10-year validity will be twice as expensive as current passport fees.
     
    “We are certainly YES to the new 10-year validity of Philippine passports, but certainly NO if OFWs are to be burdened by the DFA proposed double fee. That is unjustifiable and exorbitantly high! Passport should not be used as moneymaking scheme!” said Migrante Europe Chairperson Father Herbert Fadriquela.
     
    In a report on Thursday, May 18, Ricarte Abejuela, Passport Director of the DFA Consular Affairs justified the plan to double the fees because the materials to be used for the new passports will be more costly and the number of pages will be increased.
     
    Passport fee overpricing
    For many years, overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) have been complaining about the excessive fees and unjustifiable requirements for passport applications and passport renewals.
     
    In 2007, the College Editors Guild of the Philippines (CEGP) filed a complaint before the Ombudsman against officials of the DFA for corruption in connection to the over pricing of the e-passport contract. The CEGP petition had since been the basis for congressional inquiries and investigations on the P857 million e-passport deal.
     
    In July 2010, Migrante International called on the Aquino administration to investigate the overpricing of e-passport applications in light of allegations that the contract entered into by the DFA for the procurement of new e-passport is illegal and tainted with corruption.
     
    10-year passport approved
    On Monday, May 8, the Philippine Senate approved on the third and final reading the bill extending the validity of Philippine passports from five to 10 years. The House of Representatives approved a similar measure in February. The proposed law is seen to immensely benefit OFWs.
     
    Under the proposal, regular passports shall be valid for a period of 10 years. Those 18 years old and under, however, shall be issued passports with a five-year validity.
     
    The DFA could not say yet when the 10-year validity would be implemented, as it still has to issue the Implementing Rules and Regulations after the bill is signed into law. 
     
     
    Migrante says NO to double price of 10-year passport
    Migrante Honkong applauded the news that the 10-year validity of passport was approved by the Senate. They said that this is a proposal included in the “Hongkong OFWs Agenda for Change” which they submitted to the Duterte Government last year. But they are firmly opposed to the plan to double the price of passport fees.
     
    In Italy, Filipino migrants are determined to block this DFA plan. They started posting slogans and calls in their facebook accounts, urging kababayans to reject and take a stand against this new scheme to fleece OFWs of their hard-earned income.
     
    “We urge our kababayans, member organizations and allies to remain vigilant in the fight to defend our rights and welfare,” concluded Father Herbert.###  
     
     

    REFERENCE:

    Revd Fr. Herbert F. Fadriquela Jr.
    Chairperson, Migrante Europe

    Chaplain to the Filipino Community
    Diocese of Leicester
    Church of England

    Email: [email protected]
    Mobile No: +447456042156

    Ann Brusola
    Secretary General, Migrante Europe
    Email: [email protected] 
    Mobile No. (+39)-3278825544