FILIPINO migrant workers watchdog Migrante International-Middle East chapter yesterday accused Philippine consulate officials in the region, particularly in Saudi Arabia, of lack of concern for distressed overseas Filipino workers there.

John Leonard Monterona, Mig-rante's Middle East regional coordinator, said all inept consulate officials in the region should be fired and replaced with people who have hearts. He said the present officials do little to ease the sufferings of troubled workers and could only confirm or deny cases of migrant workers' abuse.

"Every time we have reported a case or cases of OFW victims to the Philippine consulate general and the Philippine Embassy in Saudi Arabia - and it holds true in other Philippine posts in the Middle Eastern countries - all these officials could do is to deny or confirm these reports, then a lot of excuses will follow," Monterona said.

He said the case of 30-year-old Ryan Castillo, an OFW who reportedly died in a deportation cell in Saudi last April 6 which was later confirmed by consul general Ezzedin Tago, would have gone unnoticed if they had not tipped off the media about it. "If this has not been reported by Migrante to the Philippine press, Consul Tago will keep mum and would only exert little effort to ease the deplorable conditions of the distressed OFWs inside the Jeddah deportation center, despite intensive campaign launched by Migrante for the immediate repatriation of the OFWs."

Castillo was reportedly sick when detained at the deportation center which measured only 40 feet by 40 feet and housed some 300 people. The deportees reportedly endured hot temperatures during the day and slept on cold cement floors at night.

Monterona said Consul Tago or any other consulate official cannot hide or deny the situation of distressed OFWs in the Middle East because the victims themselves go to Migrante and other similar organizations for help. "The rights violations committed against our fellow OFWs or even migrant workers of other nationalities is quite alarming as everyday we receive emails and calls from OFW-victims asking for help and advice on what they should do," Monterona said.

He said the OFWs themselves tell them of the ill treatment they receive from Philippine embassy and consulate officials who even threaten to send them back to abusive employers or to jail if they reject "amicable settlements" of their cases.