Militants mark death anniversary of Flor Contemplacion

MANILA, Philippines - Militant groups on Tuesday massed in Manila to commemorate the 14th death anniversary of overseas Filipino worker Flor Contemplacion, who was hung to death in Singapore in 1995 after being convicted of murder. A radio report said militant activists from Gabriela, Anakpawis, and Migrante International gathered on Mendiola Street near Divisoria in honor of the 42-year-old OFW from Laguna province. The protest movement triggered a traffic snarl, prompting the Manila Police District to step in and request the rallyists to move aside. The protesters were only given one hour to conduct the protest movement. Superintendent Romeo Sapitula, MPD Station 3 commander, assured that they would not let the protesters reach the Don Chino Roces (formerly Mendiola) Bridge, where protest rallies are only allowed on weekends and holidays. A fire truck has already been placed on the path of the protesters to prevent them from advancing further to the bridge. The protesters were forced to set up a makeshift stage along Mendiola, where party-list Rep. Luzviminda Ilagan was one of the speakers. A radio dzBB report quoted Migrante chairman Gary Martinez as lamenting that 14 years after Contemplacion's death, OFWs all over the world continue to suffer from abuses. Martinez also stressed the government's failure to address problems hounding overseas workers. Migrante data showed that over 5,000 OFWs remain behind bars, while 500 are still stranded in Jeddah in Saudi Arabia. Some 41 OFWs are also facing death sentence in different parts of the world. Contemplacion’s death triggered a public uproar in the Philippines, with some critics blaming the government’s inaction to save the domestic helper. Contemplacion was found guilty of strangling to death fellow OFW Delia Maga and drowning to death Nicholas Huang, the four-year-old child that Maga was taking care of. - GMANews.TV