To Hell and Back: A Stranded OFW’s Nightmare

“Parang sindikato na nga sa loob. Y’ung may mga perang pambili, patago silang nagdadala ng pagkain sa loob ng selda tapos ibebenta nila ng triple ang presyo. E kami, wala kaming pera kaya nagtitiis na lang kami sa gutom” (It was as though there was a syndicate inside. Those who had money would secretly bring food into the cell and then sell it at triple the price. As for us, we had no money so we just endured hunger), said Noel while sobbing. “Y’ung Embassy, paminsan-minsan nagdadala sila ng gamot. Pag di ka nagsabi, di sila magdadala. Iisang tao lang din ang laging pumupunta du’n” (The Embassy would occasionally send medicines. If you didn’t ask, they wouldn’t send medicines. There was only one person bringing the medicines.)

Noel told Bulatlat that he was the one who collapsed at the deportation. “Dahil sa pagod, init, gutom. Pa’no ba naman ‘di ka kumakain, tubig man lang wala” (From exhaustion, heat, hunger. How could you stand it when you had nothing to eat and didn’t even have water?)

He said his emotions burst whenever he recalls seeing and hearing comments from government officials and the media that they are liars. “Naiiyak lang ako sa sinasabi nila (opisyal) sa media na sinungaling kami. Kami na nga ang nakulong…kami na nga ang nahirapan…kami pa ang sinungaling?” (I can’t help but weep at what those officials tell the media that we are liars. We are the ones who were jailed, who suffered, and still we are the ones made to appear as liars?)

At whose expense

Despite the physical and mental suffering of the stranded OFWs, Rustico dela Fuenta from the Philippine Embassy in Riyadh could still tell them, “We are on top of the situation.”

But Noel said Ambassador Antonio Villamor told them that their repatriation would be expedited if they had their own money to buy their plane tickets. One OFW asked how about those who do not have money.

“’Wag n’yo intindihan ‘yan, mahalaga makakuha ng exit visa. “Pwede kayong mag-ambag-ambag ng SR1 kada isa” (Don’t worry about that, the important thing is that you get an exit visa. You can contribute SR1 each), Villamor allegedly told the deportees.

“Ha? Pero may pera naman ang OWWA (Overseas Workers Welfare Administration). Bakit kami ang mag-aambag-ambag?” (Huh? But the OWWA has money. Why do we have to contribute?) said Noel who became confused. “Ganun katindi ang ating gobyerno” (Our government is that bad.)

In a DFA letter date March, the department said that, “The Saudi government will pay for the repatriation of the overstaying pilgrims. The Philippine government will pay for the repatriation of the overstaying OFWs.”

But Noel and other OFWs returned to the Philippines on March 23 at their own expense. Even when he was already home, he still worries about those who have no money to shoulder their plane fare and, day by day, endure the hard life in deportation centers. “Isang buwan…isa’t kalahati…dalawang buwan…y’ung iba nandoon pa rin. Palipat-lipat lang ng ibang deportation” (One month…one and a half, two months…the others are still there. They’re just being moved from one deportation center to another.)

Acting Labor and Employment Secretary Marianito D. Roque earlier announced that 62 OFWs who have been stranded in various regions in Saudi Arabia would be home on or before April 15.

Meanwhile, since Noel’s OWWA membership already lapsed two years after he left in 2004, he is now asking the Department of Foreign Affairs to reimburse his plane ticket cost. Up to this writing, Noel said he has not heard a word from the DFA about his request.

Noel said that despite his harrowing experience, he would still be willing to go back to Saudi Arabia if it would give him the opportunity to support his family. He is still hopeful that next time, his dream would not turn into another nightmare. Bulatlat (Reposted by PinoyPress)