Filtered By: Topstories
News

OFW asks Duterte to order probe on PHL consulate in Jeddah for alleged slapping, verbal abuse


An overseas Filipino worker (OFW) in Saudi Arabia has called on President Rodrigo Duterte to order an investigation on members of the Philippine Consulate in Jeddah for allegedly slapping and verbally abusing him.

Marvin Carnate Andigos aired his grievances in a video posted on Kodao Philippines.  Andigos did not give details about the incident, which allegedly happened on April 5 while he was at the Philippine Consulate office.

"Ako po'y ipinaglalaban ko po ang aking karapatan bilang OFW... Dahil po 'yung pananampal nila sa akin, lahat po sila doon imbistagahan niyo po sila. dahil malaki talaga 'yung kapabayaan," Andigos said.

"'Yan si General [Edgar] Badajos minura-mura po ako niyan. Nagdabog pa sa lamesa. 'Yan po 'yung number one na imbistigahan niyo 'yung matataas," he added.

The OFW urged Duterte to also look into alleged anomalies within the consulate, saying a lifestyle check on all members of the consulate should be done.

"Kay mahal nating Pangulo... please, paimbistigahan mo ito sa loob ng Jeddah Consulate. Paimbestigahan niyo po lahat sila kung ano 'yung mga status ng buhay nila diyan sa Pilipinas. Mayayaman na po sila. May nangyayari po ditong anomalya, kalokohan," he said.

Andigos further claimed that he and other distressed OFWs in the area had long tried seeking the consulate's help to no avail.

"Masakit po para sa akin, 'yung ginawa nila sa akin, at ayaw ko po maullit sa iba 'yun. Napakasaklap po 'yung ganoong pangyayari. Sila po 'yung ano ng gobyerno natin, pero sila naman po 'yung nangungurap pinuno ng ganoong kalakaran," Andigos said.

"Mananakit sila ng ordinaryong tao. Hindi dapat ganoon. Sila 'yung tao ng gobyerno, sila dapat po 'yung nag ga-guide, nag ke-care. Sa totoo lang po, hindi po [safe] doon, sa pulo, sa Jeddah Consulate, hindi po [safe]. Akala ko [safe], wala. May mga kalokohan po sila diyan sa loob," he added.

Andigos called on Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III to help him return to the Philippines as he was already receiving death threats in Jeddah.

"Sa madaling panahon po gusto ko umuwi dahil maraming banta sa aking buhay. 'Yun po 'yung totoo. Hindi po nila ako tinatantanan at tinatatakot; may banta po sa aking buhay," Andigos said.

Meanwhile, in an interview with Kodao Philippines, Badajos admitted that "some hurtful words may have been exchanged" but said security personnel were only restraining Andigos because he was taking video inside the agency.

Department of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Eduardo Menez, meanwhile, said they "will have this checked." -MDM, GMA News

LOADING CONTENT