Author: Mitchteryosa

Part III: Human Trafficking Victim in Malaysia

At almost 9am of March 8, I received a call from Bantay OFW asking if it’s okay to have a phone patch with Lovely, to be aired live at DZXL. That time, my cousin, Lovely was with Labor Attache Alicia Santos. Too bad, there was technical problem that I could not hear the other party but only Usec Toots Ople and Buddy Oberas from the radio station.

Through Usec Toots Ople, I was able to pass my messages and questions on to LabAt Alice Santos regarding my cousin’s flight and security. That she will try and see how she’d be able to process buying her ticket without having us to spend a penny. At first, Lovely was told that she’d be paying 400 Ringgit for immigration penalties and that it’ll be faster for her to get home if we buy her a ticket.

The next day, I received another message from Lovely, that she’s arriving Sunday, at no cost. Few hours later, I received calls from OWWA and Blas Ople offices confirming the arrangements on the day of her arrival. (more…)

Part II: Human Trafficking Victim in Malaysia

Wednesday, March 7 at 5:54pm, while I was on duty doing ocular visit to hotels for our  upcoming event next month, I received an alarming SMS from Lovely saying:

Te, nasa police station ako. Nakatakas ako.

I immediately called her just to know if she’s okay and treated well in the police station, and also to keep her calm and occupied. I also called Mr. Esparto. With much luck, while Lovely was “running” literally, finding her way out of that “place”, Mr. Esparto was calling her just for an update. He told me that he is on his way to the Police Station which was 30 minutes away.

I was nervously shaking, and praying that these policemen were not controlled by her Employer. I also reported the news to Bantay OFW Team and they made sure that our “contacts” are intact.

40 minutes later, I called Lovely again to check on her. I was glad that Mr. Esparto made it on time. My worry was somebody from the club might also come to the police station and take her back before Mr. Esparto could take her.

That same night, Lovely was taken to the shelter provided by the Philippine Embassy. I personally thanked Mr. Esparto for doing such action and not letting us down this time. He also promised that he will be escorting Lovely to the Airport as soon as she got her flight schedule, and help her sort her ticket expenses. He’s forgiven for advising my cousin to take a cab instead during the first attempt of escape.

I also called  Consul General Villa and asked how soon can they send her home. As expected, there was no concrete answer and that everything will be coordinated with DFA and OWWA. How soon? That I do not know.

I am not a “news person”. In fact, I only get to know updates through the tweets and FB posts that my friends are posting. I got to know very late about the intention of closing the Philippine Embassies. With that, I am not even sure in which countries they are pertaining to.

Being an ex-OFW, I know how Embassies played a role in our lives. I couldn’t say a “big” role as I have not experienced a so-good-encounter with them but yes, at some point, it helped us made our lives easier.

• When I needed to renew my passport, I didn’t have to be in a long queue as how it normally works. In fact, I got my renewed passport just after a couple of hours.
• Whatever an OFW had to pay before going on vacation was settled through their office. Again, making our lives easier from not engaging ourselves to a long queue matters a lot. I just want to emphasize that “Ang bawat oras na nababawas sa bakasyon ng mga OFWs ay malaking kawalan sa amin”.

I don’t have to go in detailed. We know how Embassies work. Some officials do not even care, we know that. That’s one of the unfortunate facts that OFWs know already. But closing down their offices without getting a public consultation? It is a big no no!

Just think about those runaway OFWs who gambled their lives from doing so? Where would they run to?

Until unless (more…)