Bro. Eddie Villanueva on Thursday slammed the Malaysian government for continuously denying access to Filipinos arrested by Malaysian forces as a result of the ongoing situation in Sabah.
This, as he criticized Philippine government officials for placing conditions in helping Filipinos coming from Sabah.
A victim of the Martial Law who was jailed twice for opposing the Marcos regime, Villanueva said he sympathizes with Filipinos now detained in Malaysia over suspicions that they belong to or sympathize with the group that occupied a village in Lahad Datu and sparked a standoff with Malaysian authorities.
"As a former Martial Law prisoner, I know how it feels to be jailed without cause, without knowing if I will still see the light of day,” said Villanueva, the lone senatorial candidate of the Bangon Pilipinas party.
"I sympathize, especially with the families of those arrested, because they have no way of knowing how their loved ones are doing."
Villanueva stressed that reports of maltreatment against the Filipinos suspected of sympathizing with the Sultanate of Sulu should be addressed immediately.He pointed out that despite the numerous requests of the Philippine government for access to the detainees, these seem to be falling on deaf ears.
"The government has been taking a diplomatic approach from the start, but it does not seem to be working… The government should more aggressively assert its right to gain access to our fellow Filipinos in Sabah," Villanueva said.
"What's taking the Malaysian government so long to give the Philippine government access to the detainees? Malaysia's iron-clad laws have no space for a democratic community.”
Villanueva also called on the Malaysian government to spare Filipino children, women and elderly against forced repatriation. He added that many Filipinos have been living and working in Malaysia for years.
"Filipinos and Malaysians share a common Malay lineage and blood. We are brothers," he said.
Meanwhile, Villanueva lambasted Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte and DSWD Secretary Dinky Soliman for saying that Filipino evacuees from Sabah should have affidavits or documentation before government assistance is extended to them.
"Our government needs to provide humanitarian assistance to those affected by the conflict in Sabah immediately and without any pre-conditions. Ensuring the protection of our fellow Filipinos’ basic human rights takes precedence over such documentary requirements anytime... We are facing a crisis, and this is not the time for bureaucratic wrangling," Villanueva said.
Villanueva likewise expressed concern over the silence of the Commission on Human Rights and its chair Etta Rosales despite numerous allegations of human rights abuses against Filipinos in Malaysia.
"The reported atrocities by Malaysia against Filipinos should prompt the CHR to send a fact-finding team to check on the situation, and forward a communication to the United Nations Human Rights Commission regarding the situation," he said.
Showing posts with label Malaysia. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Malaysia. Show all posts
Thursday, March 14, 2013
Thursday, February 28, 2013
ENSURE PROTECTION OF PINOYS VS. POSSIBLE TIGHTENING OF IMMIGRATION, EMPLOYMENT RULES IN MALAYSIA
Bro. Eddie Villanueva on Thursday urged Malacañang to prepare measures that will ensure the protection of Filipinos living and working in Malaysia, in anticipation of a possible tightening of immigration and employment rules there.
Villanueva said Philippine authorities should be pro-active and should already be prepared to provide assistance to Filipinos in Malaysia, many of whom are fearing possible harassment, layoffs, and even deportation, should the Malaysian government tighten its regulations following the standoff in Sabah.
He said the Philippine embassy and overseas labor office in Malaysia should beef up their readiness to provide advisory services, legal and logistical assistance to Filipinos who may be affected by a possible tightening of such rules.
“With the occupation of a village in Lahad Datu by a group of Filipinos claiming ownership of Sabah, the possibility of the Malaysian government cracking down on Filipinos, especially those who lack the necessary travel and working documents not only in Sabah but throughout Malaysia cannot be discounted,” Villanueva said.
“The DFA should anticipate this possible eventuality and prepare to provide advisory services, as well as legal and logistical assistance to our fellow Filipinos living and working there.”
In particular, both the Foreign Affairs and Labor departments should deploy more officials and personnel to Malaysia to increase their respective capacities to accommodate requests for assistance and complaints from Filipinos there.
Back home, Villanueva said the government should create jobs and provide investment support and livelihood opportunities to help integrate returning overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) into mainstream society.
Vulnerability of government policy
“The fear of many Filipinos now living and working in Malaysia that they will lose their jobs or will be sent home only shows the vulnerability of having a government policy that encourages and trains our workforce to find work abroad,” Villanueva said.
“This situation only highlights the need for the government to not only undertake programs that will ensure that the basic rights of our OFWs are protected but, more importantly, to remove the necessity for Filipinos to leave home in search for good-paying jobs.”
Villanueva, whose senatorial campaign is centered on championing the causes of the “sagigilid” or the marginalized sectors in society which includes Filipino professionals and workers who are forced to leave their families to find work abroad, said the filing of legislation that will institute mechanisms that will serve to protect Filipinos from threats of abuse and violence while working abroad, programs that will prepare the local environment for the eventual return of OFWs to the country.
Villanueva said Philippine authorities should be pro-active and should already be prepared to provide assistance to Filipinos in Malaysia, many of whom are fearing possible harassment, layoffs, and even deportation, should the Malaysian government tighten its regulations following the standoff in Sabah.
He said the Philippine embassy and overseas labor office in Malaysia should beef up their readiness to provide advisory services, legal and logistical assistance to Filipinos who may be affected by a possible tightening of such rules.
“With the occupation of a village in Lahad Datu by a group of Filipinos claiming ownership of Sabah, the possibility of the Malaysian government cracking down on Filipinos, especially those who lack the necessary travel and working documents not only in Sabah but throughout Malaysia cannot be discounted,” Villanueva said.
“The DFA should anticipate this possible eventuality and prepare to provide advisory services, as well as legal and logistical assistance to our fellow Filipinos living and working there.”
In particular, both the Foreign Affairs and Labor departments should deploy more officials and personnel to Malaysia to increase their respective capacities to accommodate requests for assistance and complaints from Filipinos there.
Back home, Villanueva said the government should create jobs and provide investment support and livelihood opportunities to help integrate returning overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) into mainstream society.
Vulnerability of government policy
“The fear of many Filipinos now living and working in Malaysia that they will lose their jobs or will be sent home only shows the vulnerability of having a government policy that encourages and trains our workforce to find work abroad,” Villanueva said.
“This situation only highlights the need for the government to not only undertake programs that will ensure that the basic rights of our OFWs are protected but, more importantly, to remove the necessity for Filipinos to leave home in search for good-paying jobs.”
Villanueva, whose senatorial campaign is centered on championing the causes of the “sagigilid” or the marginalized sectors in society which includes Filipino professionals and workers who are forced to leave their families to find work abroad, said the filing of legislation that will institute mechanisms that will serve to protect Filipinos from threats of abuse and violence while working abroad, programs that will prepare the local environment for the eventual return of OFWs to the country.
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