An organization of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) has urged the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) to investigate the alleged “extortion” activity and file an administrative case against the Philippine Embassy staff in Jordan on Friday. Migrante International Chairperson John Leonard Monterona said in a press statement that he had formally endorsed the complaint to Philippine Ambassador Julius Torres last July. He particularly cited in the complaint letter the more than 200 distressed OFWs in Jordan who are hoping to be repatriated soon. What broke the camel's back was the specific case of Realyn Orio who was forced to run away from her alleged abusive employer and later sought refuge at the Filipino Workers' Resource Center (FWRC) in Amman. Monterona said that he received a signed complaint letter from Jennifer Modernel, a Filipino-Australian who introduced herself as Realyn Orio's cousin, describing how Philippine Embassy officials in Jordan treated her cousin and other distressed OFWs. On her signed letter to Monterona, Modernel said: “The Embassy Staff particularly a certain Enrico Garcia take no remorse or shown any pity for Realyn's complaint. Monterona further said that Modernel over a long distance call later confirmed that Garcia who introduced himself as a staff member of the Philippine Embassy, had asked her “to pay certain large amount of US dollars to the agency” because it is the only way that her cousin Orio would be sent back home. She, however, disagreed to give the large sum of money. Instead, Modernel got in touch with Migrante to ask for assistance. A case dialog with the DFA in Manila about the plight of the more than 200 stranded OFWs in Jordan had been set,Monterona revealed. On her letter to Monterona, Modernel likewise said:“Now I understand why so many Filipinos are stranded in that embassy. The embassy itself is corrupt wanting to make money from the victims instead of helping and rescuing these poor Filipinos. My cousin actually mentioned to me that there are a lot of Filipinas stranded there.” Monterona said his group is still waiting the official reply from the Philippine Embassy in Jordan on what action to take so that Orio and the more than 200 stranded OFWs in Jordan could be repatriated soon. “The Philippine Embassy in Jordan simply acknowledged the receipt of my formal case endorsement despite reminding them twice and asking what actions it will take so that we could relay the information to the families and relatives of the stranded OFWs in the Philippines,” Monterona disclosed. Monterona also noted that the numerous cases of abuses and maltreatment by abusive employers has led to the imposition of deployment ban in Jordan by the Philippine government last year. “The imposition of deployment ban in Jordan does not mean relaxation or a halt repatriating OFWs victim of abuses and maltreatment especially those who have long been in the FWRC staying for more than six months up to one year; they should be repatriated immediately so that they could start a new life and reunited with their families who have also been waiting for them,” Monterona added.
