Open Letter

This is my sentiment: When my brother was still alive and confined in the hospital at Saudi, I made a request to DFA through the person of Mr. Allan Manggis (DFA, OUMWA Case Officer, Riyadh Desk). The request (which is made through a phone conversation) states that I’m requesting our diplomats from the Philippine Embassy in Riyadh to ask/request/maki-usap to the Saudi Ministry to expedite the visit visa of my uncle who will take care of my sick brother. Mr. Manggis told me that the approval of the visit visa is already beyond their control and is in the hands of the Saudi Ministry. I myself, know that as a fact, that’s why I’m asking them (as diplomats) to talk to the Saudi Ministry, unfortunately they didn’t do anything, and didn’t even dared try.

Up to now, it is still a big question why they reject my request because I still remember the first time we went to DFA, it was the day before Araw ng Pasay (December 02, 2011). It was the time when my brother was taken to the hospital and we are asking if DFA OUMWA can give reports on what happened to my brother. We filled a form stating the request that we need. Unfortunately, the DFA, during that time was busy. Some of the office staff told us that the families of those who were sentenced to die in China were there and that they are processing their flight to China. I said to myself , “DFA OUMWA was kind enough to show concern to these people. They let their families see their loved ones on the last days of their lives.” During that time, I didn’t know the whole story of these Filipinos being sentenced to death.

I know how hard it is to be sick in a foreign land, without a family member taking care of you. So I requested my brother’s local agency (ISD Phils.)to facilitate my uncle’s visit to my brother in Saudi, and they give me a swift action. My brother’s insurance will cover the plane ticket and accommodation of my uncle while he is at Saudi. His Saudi employer (Globetech) sponsored and filed a visit visa. However, days passed and the visit visa was not yet approved by the Saudi Ministry. This is the reason why I asked DFA to ask/request/maki-usap to the Saudi Ministry to expedite the visit visa of my uncle, because I know, they were able to send the families of those convicted to death at China, and my request is not as hard to do as the ones that they did for the convicts.
Only now that I learned that these Filipinos that they are so concerned of were not OFWs, but merely drug traffickers posing as tourists- yet the government showed concern for these people. The government even asked for forgiveness from China for these people. It makes me wonder why. I can only make guesses. Maybe you can help me find out why.

My brother, on the other hand is a legitimate OFW. He is an Electrical Engineer who got a fatal disease that only a miracle can heal. We asked for assistance, that maybe our Philippine Embassy to Riyadh can talk to the Ministry to expedite the visit visa of my uncle. So that if God will make a miracle, my brother will recover with a family member taking care of him or if he will die, he will not die in vain. But DFA didn’t do anything. They didn’t even tried.
Mabuti pa ang mga drug traffickers, nagagawan nila ng paraan para makita ang pamilya nila bago sila mamatay. Bukod pa dito, nagpakumbaba pa ang ating gobyerno para ihingi ng tawad ang mga drug traffickers na ito sa gobyerno ng China. Ang kapatid ko, OFW, tinuturing na modernong bayani ng ating bayan, ay pinabayaan nila namamatay ng mag-isa sa Saudi.

Kahapon, matapos naming sabihin sa OVP ang hinaing na ito, tinawagan ako ni Mr. Allan Manggis (DFA) Bakit ko daw sya nirereklamo. Pinapupunta pa nga nya ako sa kanilang opisina para ipaliwanagang side nila. Ang sabi ko nalang ay wala na ring magagawa ang paliwanag nya, pabilisin na lang nila ang pagbalik ng bangkay ng kapatid ko ditto sa Pilipinas. Wala na nga po sigurong silbi para sa akin ang paliwanag ng DFA kung bakit di nila tinulungan ang kapatid ko at natulungan nila ang mga drug traffickers. Ngunit para po sa iba pang Filipino na may mga ka-pamilyang OFW din, maganda po na marinig nila ang dahilan kung bakit. Para kung sakaling mangyari sa kanila ang ganitong bagay, matutulungan sila ng DFA, tulad ng pagtulong nila sa mga drug traffickers.

Sana rin po ay maiparating nyo ito sa mga OFW Batangueno families. Isang magandang public service para sa pamilyang OFWs.
Para sa karagdagang impormasyon, maaari ninyong kontakin ang mga taong ito: DFA OUMWA, c/o Mr. Allan Manggis Tel No. 834-4591 at 834 4996
ISD Phils (Local placement agency) c/o Mr. Danilo Manlapig, Tel. Nos. 551 7852 at 551 1910