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Another OFW faces death in Singapore

Migrante urge gov’t aid

BAGUIO CITY (Sept. 15) — After nearly a decade since the death of Flor Comtemplacion in 1995, another Filipino maid faces death penalty in Singapore.

Guen Garlejo Aguilar, 29, a native of Tagudin, Ilocos Norte faces death by hanging if proven guilty of murdering Jane Parangan La Pueblo from Nueva Viscaya, also a Filipino maid in Singapore.

Contemplacion was hanged in Singapore’s Changi Prison for the death of compatriot Delia Maga and Maga’s 4-year old Singaporean ward. Contemplacion’s execution triggered widespread protests among Filipinos, who blamed the government’s negligence for her death.

Migrante-Cordillera spokesperson Flora Belinan told Nordis in an interview that Contempacion’s case should serve as a lesson to government agencies and officials designated to look after the rights and welfare of overseas Filipino workers (OFW).

“Sana hindi matulad ang kaso ni Aguilar kay Flor na nabitay dahil sa kapabayaan ng pamahalaan,” (We hope that Aguilar’s case will not end up like Flor’s (Contemplacion), who died because of government negligence) she said.

Belinan further said that Singapore strictly implements death penalty and it would be regretful if another OFW died because the Philippine government did not do its part.

Belinan also called on the Singaporean government to accord Aguilar due process and to treat her properly.

Dina Ponciano, the officer-in-charge of the Program Services Department of OWWA-Cordillera said Aguilar’s case is already with the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), particularly the Office of the Undersecretary for Migrant Affairs Jose Brillantes.

Ponciano added that Aguilar’s OWWA benefits are already being taken care of.

Belinan stressed that Migrante grieves La Puebla’s death. Moreover, she expressed disgust over government’s pronouncements that La Puebla is not entitled to OWWA benefits because she is undocumented. Belinan said this only shows the futility of government policies for OFWs. She explained that this is the effect of the new OWWA omnibus policy, which removes the access of OFWs to the OWWA Trust Fund.

Belinan reiterated that the OWWA funds are OFW’s money and that not a single centavo comes from the government. She stressed that it is only right that the government return this fund to OFWs in the form of service and assistance.

Migrante will lead a picket rally at 10:00 a.m. on September 19 at the OWWA-Cordillera office to call for the scrapping of the OWWA omnibus policy. # Kim Quitasol for NORDIS

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