Article by:
Marita Moaje
MANILA – A staff member of the Migrant Workers Office (MWO) in Bahrain will face investigation in the country after being recalled by Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac for disrespectfully arguing with some overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in a video that went viral.
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has expressed displeasure over the rude behavior of the MWO staff member, directing Cacdac to investigate and take action on the incident.
In an interview over Radyo Pilipinas, Cacdac apologized to the OFW community in Bahrain, calling the staff’s behavior unacceptable.
“Pinare-recall natin siya as of yesterday. Decision is final. Uuwi siya to face an investigation (We recalled him as of yesterday. The decision is final. He will return to face an investigation),” he said.
“Hindi acceptable itong pangyayari na ito, napakalungkot at ako’y humihingi ng paumanhin sa ating mahal na OFWs sa Bahrain at saan mang panig ng mundo dahil hindi ito karapat dapat, hindi ito ang tatak ng DMW at ng OWWA (This incident is unacceptable, it is very sad, and I apologize to our dear OFWs in Bahrain and all over the world because this is not right, this is not the mark of DMW and Overseas Workers Welfare Administration),” he added.
He said the employee could face penalties if found liable.
Cacdac said the incident stemmed from a distribution of financial assistance at the embassy compound to OFWs in Bahrain affected by the escalating tension in the Middle East region due to the exchange of attacks between the United States-Israel and Iran.
He said the payout was halted after the crowd grew and began to resemble a public assembly.
Cacdac, however, said some groups may have attempted to enter the compound, but instead of calmly addressing the OFWs, the MWO staff used harsh language and told them to complain wherever they wished.
“Imbes na sinabihan ng mahinahon at reassuring at pwede naman benefit pay ang tawag doon, parang digital payment system, ay ganoon pang mga salita, tono na binitawan. Bukod sa tono, ang mga sinabi pa ay di totoo (Instead of talking calmly and reassuring, and it could have been called benefit pay, like a digital payment system, those kinds of words and tone were used. Aside from the tone, the things he said were not true),” Cacdac said.
To prevent similar incidents, Cacdac said he has ordered that financial assistance to OFWs in Bahrain be distributed through digital payments.
He assured that the department has funds, contrary to what the staffer told the OFWs.
“May pondo. Isa pa yan sa pagkakamali, on so many levels, ang dami pagkakamali kahit anong angulo (There is funding. That's another mistake, on so many levels, so many mistakes from any angle),” he said.
Cacdac also clarified that the proposed PHP7 billion contingency fund he mentioned earlier in a Senate hearing is intended for a possible worst-case scenario involving large-scale repatriation.
Meanwhile, Cacdac said the government continues to assist the OFWs affected by the Middle East tension.
He said a group of 29 OFWs from Israel and the United Arab Emirates is set to arrive in the country later Tuesday evening after they were safely assisted to cross borders.
Cacdac said another group of 16 OFWs is expected to arrive on Wednesday.
“Twenty-nine yung mamaya itinawid sa land crossing. Yung sa Israel bukas mga 16. Yung tatawid naman mula Kuwait at Qatar, between those two, aabot ng halos 100 (29 were crossed at the land crossing. Another group from Israel, tomorrow, about 16. Then, those crossing from Kuwait and Qatar, between those two, will reach almost 100,” Cacdac said.
He also vowed to assist another group of OFWs who were stranded in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, after they were offloaded as their flight was unable to depart due to temporary restrictions. (PNA)
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