Press Release
July 17, 2007

Villar expects immediate lifting of visa issuance suspension

SENATE President Manny Villar lauded the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) for the prompt action it has taken in response to the order of the South Korean embassy in Manila to suspend visa issuance to Filipino workers.

"We look forward to the immediate lifting of this suspension order by the Korean embassy in the interest of fairness and to allow our workers to start work abroad," Villar said.

South Korea Consul General Hong Sungmog yesterday apologized to the DFA for such suspension but said it would remain until steps were taken to act on the extortion complaints by Korean nationals against some Bureau of Immigration officials.

The embassy earlier decided to suspend all visa applications of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) following "numerous cases of harassment" of its citizens in the country by said government personnel. The freeze order excludes applications for tourist visas.

The Senate President said, "It is most unfair that innocent OFWs bear the brunt of the brazenness of immigration misfits who have victimized a number of Korean nationals."

Villar likewise urged the Bureau of Immigration (BI) to address the matter and work hand in hand with the DFA since the issue involves BI personnel whose offenses carry far-reaching consequences including the derailment of the chances of OFWs for lucrative work abroad.

The Senate President urged the DFA to continue its push on the issue in order to finally lift the suspension and to enable Filipino workers to obtain their working visas without further delay.

"The DFA fully understands the situation and I am confident that this issue will be resolved swiftly in order to serve and protect the interests of our OFWs awaiting their visas," Villar said.

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