Visit Syrian Jails, Sec. Romulo Challenged

Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto Romulo should spend a day in one of the jails in Syria during his visit to the middle eastern country to personally see the dire condition of overseas Filipinos languishing in prison cells there.

This was the challenge of Gabriela Women's Party Rep.Luz Ilagan whose help was sought by Filipinos who had recently been repatriated last January after being held in Syrian jails for almost a month.

Hundreds of Filipinos are being thrown inside degrading and jam-packed cells during the frequent raids conducted by Syrian authorities to crack down on illegal aliens. Men, women and children experience torture and other abuses while awaiting trial. They also experience hunger as they are not provided with food. Many also suffer from skin diseases.

According to the repatriated OFWs, most of them did not have any idea what they were accused of and detained for, as the authorities refused to tell them, even after they have been sent back to the Philippines. Ilagan said this is a violation of their right to due process.

Ilagan asks Sec. Romulo to investigate into the apparent disregard of the Philippine Ambassador in Damascus on the plight of the Filipinos in Syria, as despite the numerous times he had been notified of the condition of those in jail, no assistance in any form has been extended to them.

"The Philippine Ambassador to Syria should explain if the allegations that he has been turning a blind eye to the degrading situation of Filipinos were true and that he should immediately be removed from office if proven that he has been sleeping on his duties to his distressed kababayans," Ilagan said.

Ilagan also asks for an immediate financial and legal assistance to those still in jail and a repatriation program to be initiated for the undocumented Filipinos who will be affected by Syria's crackdown on aliens without proper documents.

To prevent Filipinos from being victimed by the crackdown, Ilagan said that the POEA should track down the recruitment companies which have been illegally trafficking people in Syria. More than 10,000 Filipinos have illegally entered Syria despite the deployment ban imposed by the Philippine government.