Press Release
September 23, 2008

Kiko on the recent hostage-taking of 97 Filipino seamen in Somalia:
'OFWs keep our economy afloat, but at what cost?'

Senate Majority Floor Leader and human rights advocate Kiko Pangilinan today labeled the alarming increase of Filipino seamen hostages in Somalia as an "omen" that the Philippine government must urgently solve the country's employment problems.

"Over a million OFWs leave the country yearly to earn a living abroad. The administration calls them our present-day heroes. They slave away across the globe in very risky conditions while we, back home, count their numbers in dollar remittances. We forget that their contributions to the national revenue come at a very high social cost. Siguro naman, kung may magandang pagkakakitaan sa Pilipinas, hindi na sila aalis. Pipiliin na nilang makasama ang mga pamilya nila kaysa makipagsapalaran sa ibang bansa. Yes, they keep our economy afloat. But at what cost?," Kiko noted.

The Department of Foreign Affairs announced last Monday that the number of Filipino seamen taken hostage by Somali pirates in Africa have risen to nearly 100 after a recent incident involving a Greek vessel. There has been no word yet on the present condition of the hostages.

"Ilang ulit na bang naiuulat ang pagdukot, pagmamaltrato, panghahalay, pagpatay at pang-aabuso sa mga OFWs? Di ba't kelan lang ay may inilibing na Filipino caregiver na binaril ng kanyang 91-year-old na alaga sa Amerika? Samantalang, panay ang panghihikayat ng gobyernong mangibang bansa ang mga tao para kumita,"added the Senator.

A recent Social Weather Station (SWS) survey reported that one out of six or seven Filipino families around the country have OFW loved ones. This is an estimated 2.5 million out of 18 million Filipino families.

"What is more saddening is that many young Filipinos aspire to find jobs abroad. They are willing to do so at any cost--regardless of the frightening experiences of countless OFWs. This just goes to show that Filipinos want to walk out of the country despite the perils of overseas employment. This should be a wakeup call to those in government. Tama na. Hindi na natin pwedeng payagang patuloy itong mangyari," insisted Kiko.

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