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DFA chief directed RP embassies in ME not to entertain Estrada

Realizing the massive popularity of former President Joseph Estrada and fearing his impact on the Middle East Filipino overseas workers, Malacañang, through Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto Romulo, was said not only to have ordered the different Philippine embassies in the Middle East not to entertain the former leader but also had officials there to have the OFW groups who had invited Estrada to be their guest speaker for their Independence Day celebration to withdraw their invitation to him and get another guest speaker from the Arroyo administration in his stead.

Philippine Embassy officials’ hands were tied, sources said, as they feared sanctions from Malacañang, being aware of the recent recall of the former Philippine ambassador to the Court of St. James.

The officials generally kept away from the OFWs activities which Estrada had graced, and kept their distance from the former President.

The Filipino groups, which are private groups, refused the pleas of Middle East Philippine embassy officials to withdraw their invitation to Estrada as their guest speaker.

While Estrada was mobbed by Filipino workers, whether in Kuwait or Abu Dhabi, he was reportedly not accorded the same courtesy due a former Philippine president by embassy officials, sources coming from the groups of OFWs who organized the Independence Day celebration, told the Tribune, in an e-mail message.

But not only were Estrada and his son, Senate Pro-Tem president Jinggoy Estrada mobbed by the OFWs in the airports and other sites where a gathering of Filipino workers were at, but that they had even volunteered to be his leaders of the Jeep ni Erap organization, within the Middle East.

The Jeep ni Erap organization was Estrada’s grassroots support in the 1998 presidential elections.

Estrada’s JEEP ni Erap was re-launched this year in Legazpi City.

JEEP stands for Justice, Economy, Environment and Peace.

The OFWs in the Middle East also clamored for Estrada to seek the presidency again, saying it was a great injustice done him by the Arroyo government when he was ousted by a coup d’etat initiated by then Vice President Gloria Arroyo and treacherous military officers, along with civil society groups.

Sources told the Tribune that the Erap magic is still there and it is only Estrada whom they feel can help them in having a better life back home.

Earlier, seeing and hearing the plight of some 100 OFWs who wanted to return to the country but had no wherewhithal to do so, Estrada offered to fly at least 50 of these OFWs home, undertaking the trips’ expenses.

The Estrada camp reported that the former President had given the needed money for the air tickets to Labor Attache, Josephus Jimenez, for him to take charge of the tickets for the return of the OFWs.

While in Abu Dhabi, the former President met with a human rights leader there and visited some 170 abused Filipinas, most of whom were raped, and pregnant and living under very inhumane conditions.

At least 15 women to a room were said to share just one toilet in that shelter.

Estrada then donated some $10,000 to this human rights group for the building of more toilets for the abused OFWs.

The abused women cried and told their tale of woe to Estrada and begged him to have the Arroyo government discourage Filipino women from working in the Middle East, if only to spare other Filipinas from being abused, raped and made pregnant, then left to fend for themselves.

What is worse, the sources from the Filipino organizations in the Middle East said is that if the Filipina domestics fight back and accuse their employers of having abused them, they end up in jail instead of their abusive employers.

They also complained that the Arroyo government hardly pays any heed to their plaints, save for the usual “lip servce.”

The Arroyo government is known for actively encouraging more and more poor Filipinos to leave the country and seek jobs abroad, especially in the Middle East where OFWs are plentiful as the Arroyo government relies on their remittances to keep the economy afloat.

Meanwhile, Senator Jinggoy and his father, also lauded Qatar Airways, considered as the “world’s five-star airlines,” for being a key supporter of overseas Filipino workers, noting that the company, for years now, has been generously assisting OFWs based in Kuwait especially those in distress.

Qatar Airways, they also learned, has been giving free tickets to distressed OFW’s who come home to the Philippines from Kuwait via the company’s flights.

Further, Qatar Airways also said it will come up with a plan on how to extend more help to distressed OFWs, not only in Kuwait , but also in the other parts of the Gulf Region.

The Estradas had a meeting with Qatar Airways’s Senior Vice President – Commercial (SVPC), Mr. Ali Al Rais, and the company’s Kuwait Area Manager, Mr. Mohammed Al Jumairi on June 11 at the Costa Del Sol Hotel, Kuwait.

“We were very much elated to learn that for many years now, Qatar Airways has been supportive of, and has been sponsoring and participating in, activities organized by the Filipino associations in Kuwait in cooperation with the Philippine Embassy there, and that a large part of the proceeds of the company’s programs are being donated to distressed OFWs at the Philippine Embassy shelter,” the senator said.

Qatar Airways, flag carrier of Qatar based in Doha, has offices and operation in 80 international destinations, including Kuwait.

The Estradas expressed deep appreciation to Qatar Airways’ commitment to social responsibility especially toward OFWs and said they hoped the airline company would continue to help the Filipinos in Kuwait and from all over the world.

The Estrada delegation graced the Philippine Independence Day celebration of the Filipino community in that country, during which the senator also dialogued with the OFWs as well as diplomatic and labor officials to check on the labor condition there.

The Estradas also rode the “Qatar Airways Jeepney”, the one and only such vehicle being used in Kuwait which has become a great source of pride among Filipinos there and through which they relate their roots, culture and spirit of nationalism to fellow Filipinos as well as to other nationalities in their host country.

Source: Daily Tribune