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GMA’s ‘pasalubong’:
119 stranded OFWs
BY REGINA BENGCO PRESIDENT Arroyo returned yesterday from Saudi Arabia, bringing with her 119 Filipino workers who had been stranded there for two years.
Arroyo’s party arrived at 4 p.m. at NAIA’s Centennial Terminal and the documentation of the returning OFWs, mostly women employed as domestic helpers, was facilitated. Only 17 had passports.
Arroyo made representations with the Saudi Arabian government to be able to bring home the OFWs.
Most of the distressed workers have spent their time at the Philippine Overseas Labor Office. The workers said escaped from their employers, others were not paid on time and the rest said they were not paid according to what their contracts stipulated.
Upon coming out of the plane, the OFWs lined up behind the President at the arrival area, waving tiny Philippine flags.
Saudi Arabia was the last leg of a nine-day, three-nation trip that also took her to the Republic of Turkey and the United Kingdom.
In Turkey, Arroyo met with President Abdullah Gul, the Filipino community and foreign investors. In London, Arroyo spoke before the Emerging Markets Summit, witnessed the signing of the RP-UK Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty and Extradition Treaty, met with the Filipino community, and received calls from international businessmen.
In Saudi Arabia, Arroyo met with King Abdullah and Saudi investors and checked on the welfare of overseas Filipino workers in Dammam, Al-Khobar, and Jeddah provinces.
Upon arrival, the President proceeded to Iloilo province to check on various projects. – With Jay Chua
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