Verification Process

De Castro: Probe fake travel papers

Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 04:32:00 02/08/2009

Filed Under: Labor, Employment, Government, Migration
Most Read
Philippines—Vice President Noli de Castro on Saturday ordered an investigation into how the 22 offloaded Middle East-bound Filipino workers got spurious travel documents and almost succeeded in going to their respective destinations the other day.
Had it not been for the alert immigration officers at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) last Tuesday, he said, all 22 workers who were bound for Abu Dhabi, Qatar and Bahrain could have been languishing in jails there.
“This is really alarming because while the government is hellbent on curbing illegal recruitment and saving troubled OFWs abroad, we still have a lot of our countrymen being deployed overseas the wrong way,” said De Castro, who is presidential adviser on Overseas Filipino Workers and head of the Task Force Against Illegal Recruitment (TFAIR).
“There must be somebody or people responsible for the questionable documents of the offloaded workers and I intend to identify and make them answerable for what could have been a big mess for our OFWs,” he stressed.
Last week, De Castro said 21 other passengers were also offloaded from several flights for verification. At least 19 of them were found by the immigration bureau to be heading for Lebanon where the government has a standing travel ban.
“Again, I appeal to our countrymen to be mindful of the consequences of working abroad through illegal means,” he said. Cynthia D. Balana
______________________________________________________
How indeed? Need we say more about our Immigration 'due' processing? OFWs here in Nigeria can attest to its veracity!

Comments:

Feb 9 (2 days ago)
Sila lang naman ang dahilan kung bakit nagiging illegal eh. Dahil sa este-Ban, nagiging illegal.

Ang tingnan nila yong puno'd dulo kung bakit merong "spurious documents". Ang mga recruitment agencies. Hindi ang OFWs. Nabiktima na ng recruiters, bayad pa sa immigration, hindi pa pinaalis. Sobra pa sa double jeopardy ang nangyari.

Sabagay, hindi kasi kelangan ng malalim na pag-iisip kung BAN. Mas ma-trabaho to investigate and monitor recruitment agencies. Besides, may mga kapit din kasi ang mga agencies na ito kaya BAN na lang. Mas madaling gawin eh. Sulat lang nga memo, konting ingles, pirma. Presto! Yon lang.

Chona Bollos

THE TRAVEL BAN ISSUE

Gov't may lift ban on sending OFWs to Iraq, Nigeria
02/06/2009 | 07:55 PM

MANILA, Philippines – The Philippines will reassess its current ban on sending workers to Iraq, Nigeria and Lebanon and may lift it in areas with lower security risks because of the global economic crisis, the vice president said Friday.

The country's economy is largely dependent on its overseas workers, with some 8.7 million out of 90 million Filipinos working abroad. The government said $14.45 billion was sent home in 2007— about 10 percent of the gross domestic product. It has projected 2008 remittances will hit $15.7 billion.

Vice President Noli de Castro, who is also the presidential adviser on migrant workers, said security has reportedly improved in the economic centers of Iraq, Nigeria and Lebanon.

He said a selective lifting of the ban is being considered "to widen our overseas employment market in the light of the global economic crisis."

A lifting of the ban is only being considered in places with high employment opportunities, and it would remain in areas still considered high-risk zones, de Castro said in a statement.

A team headed by Roy Cimatu, special envoy to the Middle East, will leave soon to reassess the security risks in the three countries, Department of Foreign Affairs officials said.

In a meeting with de Castro last month, Iraqi officials urged the Philippines to send workers to help with the reconstruction of their country, where up to 10 million new jobs are available, the statement said.

The Philippines banned its citizens from working in Iraq in July 2004 after insurgents abducted and threatened to behead Filipino truck driver Angelo dela Cruz. He was released after President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo agreed to withdraw the Philippines' small military contingent in Iraq — a decision strongly criticized by Washington and other coalition allies.

Labor Secretary Marianito Roque said about 10,000 Filipinos work in two US military camps in Iraq without permission from the government.

Some 3,800 Filipinos work in Nigeria's bustling oil industry. Arroyo banned additional workers from going there in 2007 after gunmen kidnapped scores of foreign workers, including dozens of Filipinos.

The Philippines also prohibited the deployment of its workers to Lebanon after war broke out in July 2006. - AP
____________________________________________________

So, the government, actually thought that ALL the OFWs here in Nigeria are working with oil companies? Inspite of what Conejos and co had verified and actually seen when he 'visited' this country? Was it a misinformation that he fed to the government? Inspite of the repeated confirmation that the kidnapped ones were seafarers?Just asking.

THE TRAVEL BAN ISSUE

ANOTHER HEART-RENDING 'MANIFESTATION' OF ARROYO'S 'LOVE AND CARE' FOR THE VERY HEROIC OFWs

Arroyo: Saudi OFWs’ jobs ‘safe’
By Joel Guinto
INQUIRER.net
First Posted 16:49:00 02/03/2009

Filed Under: Overseas Employment, World Financial Crisis, Government, Unemployment
Most Read
Philippines -- President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo assured Filipino workers in Saudi Arabia that their jobs are “safe” despite the world financial crisis, and that her government is prepared to assist overseas workers who may be laid off in other parts of the world.
“Dito sa Saudi ang pinakamalaking expatriate Filipino community sa buong mundo. Gusto kong tiyakin na matatg ang trabaho ninyo dito sa kabila ng pandaigdigang krisis sa ekonomiya, dahil may mga kababayang nawawalan ng trabaho sa ibat-ibang bansa. [The biggest expatriate Filipino community in the world is in Saudi. I want to assure you that your jobs are secure here, because in other parts of the world, our countrymen are losing their jobs],” Arroyo said in a speech before the Filipino community in Riyadh.
Arroyo and her party made a brief stop in Saudi Arabia from Italy, before proceeding to Bahrain for an official visit.
“Sa mga panahong ito na nanunubok sa mga expatriates, ang inyong pamahalaan ay hindi natutulog [During these trying times for our expatriates, your government is not sleeping on the job],” she said.
“For government, it is now payback time. The heroic efforts of the expatriate workers will not go unreciprocated. A program of full reciprocity shall be carried out to help those who lose their jobs,” she said.
Arroyo said the government has set up a P1-billion fund for microfinance loans for retrenched overseas Filipino workers.
The Department of Labor will also help retrenched OFWs find news jobs abroad, Arroyo said, adding that government has started a “marketing blitz” to look for more job overseas opportunities.

THE TRAVEL BAN ISSUE

Another news item that would make the OFWs from the 'Travel Ban'ned countries shout in exasperation!

Jobless told to enlist on govt website

INQUIRER.net
First Posted 11:22:00 01/31/2009

Filed Under: Employment, World Financial Crisis
Most Read
Other Most Read StoriesxClose thisMANILA, Philippines -- Workers here and abroad who have been laid off as a result of the global financial crisis are encouraged to sign up with the labor department’s Phil-Jobnet job search website.
Also available at the labor department’s website, the site provides “a convenient, readily available job search service” 24/7.

In a statement, Labor Secretary Marianito Roque said the Phil-Jobnet system currently lists more than 46,300 various jobs available.
Under the Bureau of Local Employment, the Phil-Jobnet system is complemented by the 100 user-friendly GMA (Greater Modular Access) Job Center kiosks in shopping malls and city and town halls, he said.
Roque said the strategy seeks to reinforce the department’s efforts “to preserve and sustain job opportunities amidst the global crisis in cooperation with the social partners.”

BLE director Criselda Sy said most of the workstations are available in the country’s Public Employment Service Offices (PESO) network.
“As available in the PESOs in locations where Internet is available, trained PESO personnel can assist and orient users in accessing and availing of the services of the Phil-Jobnet system in such workstations,” she said.
“But displaced workers may readily access the Phil-Jobnet using any Internet-connected computers whether at worksites, at home, or in public computer shops,” she added

At the same time, Deputy Administrator Teresita Manzala, who heads the department’s National Reintegration Center for Overseas Filipino Workers (NRCO), advised displaced overseas Filipino workers to avail of the free services and pertinent programs geared at assisting them.
Manzala said that under the NRCO’s One-Stop Center, pertinent agencies have made available a package of assistance and services for the benefit of OFWs.
The NRCO chief said that the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration-NRCO (tel. nos. 528-0848, 526-2633, 526-2392) provides active livelihood support, counseling, and guidance to displaced OFWs.

THE TRAVEL BAN ISSUE

COMMENTS LANG PO....
The decision to maintain the ban has become political, and it has something to do with PGMA's election image.

Lebanon for example. The reason for ban was the Israel-Hezbollah war. But it's been a long time since the war ended but DFA is yet unwilling to lift the ban. BECOZ if they lift the ban, there will be a big howl fom Nigeria OFWs.

Di hamak na mas malaki magpasweldo sa Nigeria. Di nga lang in demand ang mga DH dito kaya kunti lang makapunta.

Di tulad ng Lebanon, college or HS grad puede, at 200 USD and no salary for 3mos, ok na rin sila.

If they can consider the lifting of ban to Lebanon and Iraq, what is preventing them from doing the same to Nigeria? It's either self-inflicted ignorance of DFA, or ego/pride ni Este-ban, or walang kinikita taga DFA.

The wisest decision here to counter the job losses in other countries is to lift the ban to the "Apat na Sikat" na bansa -- Iraq, Lebanon, Nigeria at Afghanistan.

If Este-ban feels an itch to slap a ban to protect Filipinos from kidnappings/beheadings, he can do so against KSA, Somalia, Rwanda, Sudan and -- Philippines...


Sincerely,Maynard L. Flores
mobile: +2348036166237
-res ipsa loquitor-
http://naijapinoy.wordpress.com/

Posted comment

Chona Bollos
6:51 am (3 hours ago)
Either of the two lang:1. Pera - takot seguro sila na kung may mangyayari mang gulo, gagastos na naman sila. Kung sa ibang lugar na walang ban, OK lang miski inaabuso at nire-rape kasi mga laborers at DH lang naman ang mga nandun na pwede lang nilang isnabin. At baka ubos na ang OWWA fund or ayaw gastusin ang OWWA fund kasi gagamitin for the 2010 elections. And, ayaw din ng BI na mahinto ang ligaya nila.2. Pride (or tigasan ng ulo) - ayaw lang ni este-Ban and Co. na umatras sa nabitawan nilang desisyon. Sino ba ang mga OFWs na ito to tell them what is right or wrong? Sila na mga HONORABLES, pinagsasabihan ng mga ultimong OFWs? Mas marunong at madunong sila, no?

THE TRAVEL BAN ISSUE

Headlines blaring at us before going to bed and waking up in the morning broadcast the same thing: Global economic crisis affecting countries; Nurses to US not answer to OFW crisis; OWWA offers unemployment package, etc. etc.
While it is commendable that the government is actually doing something 'for the OFWs,' it is very ironic that in a country like Nigeria where jobs are bountiful and the Filipino workers are treated with respect and paid highly, where Filipinos are given a very good living condition, the Philippine government imposed a Travel Ban.
The OFWs here in Nigeria do not suffer like the workers in the Middle East and yet there is no travel ban in the said countries. Iraq where there are actual terrorists, the Honorable Vice President is recommending to lift the ban.

The basis of the government to impose this ban is 'to protect' us - due to the kidnappings of the Filipino seamen in Niger-Delta. As was explained over and over again, with the visits of Conejos and company, the seamen are that - SEAMEN.
Niger-Delta where the militants are and Abuja / Lagos or where the land-based employees are could be compared to Mindanao and Manila. The problem in Niger-Delta is political - unfair sharing of oil revenues.

Filipino Seamen were caught while in the process of oil bunkering. They are still languishing in jail here. The Philippine government paints Nigeria as a dangerous country (where we OFWs prove otherwise); then what would the Nigerian government make of the fact that the Filipinos were the ones caught making trouble? Isn't it very embarrasing?

Many Filipino contract workers had lived and worked honorably here for more than 30 years. Filipinos are working in companies where even the fringe benefits are substantial.

We can not understand the stubborn stand of the government to continue imposing this travel ban. The government is even sending Cimatu to assess the condition here, because the government can not rely on the first hand information as attested by the Filipinos actually living and working here with families, the government has to rely on somebody who has not even an inkling on how we live here.

Because of this 'travel ban' the government via the Bureau of Immigration has actually legitimize 'the escort system' - no pay, no go.
The government is not protecting us - the government has actually turned us into milking cows.

Mabuhay ang Pinoy Workers!


COMMENTS
Posted: Thursday, January 29, 2009 4:15:43 PM

TRAVEL BAN NOT PROTECTING OFWs IN NIGERIA

If the government is not really meant to protect us, then the Travel Ban imposes in Nigeria are the plain facts that they lied to us, contemplating a destructive move to our inalienable rights to travel and work abroad being protected by the Constitution. Our basic rights to choose a better place to work and to find a better life is constrained by this declaration and as circumstances it leads us to hard life.

The government refuses to understand our options what is best and most appropriate places for us to work abroad. The government is refusing to understand our primary pursuit for a better life. The government refused to listen to our statement of supporting facts on the better quality of working environment wherever we are stationed in all places of Nigeria and the security protection our Company being provided to us. All these forms of refusal by our government responsible authority are an obvious violation to our fundamental rights of life, liberty and pursuit of happiness.

If Nigerian OFWs are treated as a “Milking Cow” by the unscrupulous Government Officials then what will be the reaction? Isn’t it that the cow is providing milk to the needy but if the cow is hurt because of too much milking then the cow kicks them away. However, how can the cow kicks them because his four legs are tied tightens, of course he will find a proper timing not only to kick them but also to horn them like a mad bull is doing to his oppressor in the fighting arena.

Nonetheless, our appeal for the lifting of travel ban is been a long issue many ideas and comments gathered and written in any forms of critics to various media outlets, we even tried writing to government concerned office and yet nothing yields any positive answers from the government. Now, gauging from your feedbacks, we have the same impression as to why the government is prolonging the effect of this travel ban. Because they knew that OFWs in Nigeria is getting much better compensation compared with the Middle East OFWs and for this reason the real intent of the travel ban to protect us from any imaginary danger, is now transformed to promote a lucrative illegal activity for them called “Milking Cow Business”.



Best regards

Noel S. Archide

INTELS Nigeria .

THE TRAVEL BAN ISSUE

NGO’s oppose Arroyo order to market OFWs

Comments-
To weigh up the main theme of Presidents Arroyo’s Administrative Order 247 directing a mandate to POEA to mobilize a full blast marketing of the Modern-day-Heroes (OFW) is interpreted as a prompt hedge against inflation caused by the prolonged balance of payment deficits tend to lead to decline in peso currency value, and eventually heading to recession in the economy. The Balance of Trade is anything else that should concern her government to cover up the shortfall of the export value against the import value.

Because of the failure of her administration to make the nation industrialized, it means that her government will continue to rely on the remittances of the majority of migrant workers who successfully find a work abroad without assistance from government, (only equipped with professional and technical know how, who are hopeless to get a job in the Philippines). That is the dilemma of the political and economic system. Every time the country is experiencing economic difficulties the Modern-day-Slave is christened as Modern-day-Heroes to help save the deteriorating economy from collapsing.

The government must do something to turn the country into industrialized nation, since the majority of the people do not have capital money to put up a business, thus jobs are the primary source of income. The permanent solution these people want is for the government to create jobs and livelihood.

If we welcome this Administrative Order 247 we likewise welcome extensively the hundreds of thousands integrated new working class of men and women driven out from their homes and families to wander abroad as Modern-day-Slaves to fight against the shooting pain of poverty back home.

While our Government is conveniently being dependent on the remittances of OFWs for the stabilization of our economy we cannot achieved to make our country an industrialized nation, it means that the children of the next generation will inherit the code-name of Modern-day-Slave forever.

However, if the urgency of the implementation of AO 247 will go through, we hope that the responsible Department handling the issue of the Travel Ban in Nigeria will now consider the lifting of the Travel Ban totally.

Best regards

Noel S. Archide
INTELS Nigeria

THE TRAVEL BAN ISSUE

This is to add insult to the Nigerian Government and additional hardship to OFWs here in Nigeria as inflicted by the adviser on overseas workers, our very own Kabayan Noli de Castro. Ano ang sekreto at recommended nya ang lifting of travel ban sa Iraq? Your guess is as good as mine. And to tell you frankly, Pusong Pinoy and the 'lowly workers' here in Nigeria can not afford this.

MABUHAY ANG MANGGAGAWANG PILIPINO!



Palace to consider lifting Iraq deployment ban
abs-cbnNEWS. com 01/25/2009 11:52 PM
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Malacañang on Sunday said President Arroyo will seriously consider a proposal to lift the ban on the deployment of Filipino workers to Iraq.
Secretary Cerge Remonde, incoming press secretary, said the proposal came from Vice President Noli De Castro.
Vice President Noli de Castro said Saturday that he has asked the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) to study the lifting of the ban on deployment of workers to Iraq, which may open millions of opportunities for overseas Filipino workers.
De Castro, the concurrent presidential adviser on overseas Filipino workers, said Iraqi government representatives told him in recent meeting that there are about 10 million job opportunities for overseas workers in their country.
He said he had asked a representative of the DFA, who was present in the meeting, to study the possibility of lifting the work ban in Iraq.
“I will also meet with the Secretary of Foreign Affairs and Undersecretary Esteban Conejos to determine if we can already lift our ban in Iraq,” de Castro said in his dzMM radio program “Para Sa ‘Yo Bayan” Saturday during a phone interview with Labor Secretary Marianito Roque.
Roque, for his part, told De Castro that the Department of Labor and Employment had also requested the DFA to assess the security situation in Iraq.
He said his counterpart in Iraq had also advised him that 30,000 construction jobs will open in the country.
He said that based on initial news he is hearing from Iraq, the security situation there has already improved.
Malacañang meanwhile also said the government is stepping up the search for new job opportunities here and abroad for OFWs to mitigate the impact of the global economic meltdown on the country’s workforce.
Remonde, in a report on Malacañang’s web portal, reportedly said that tapping job markets abroad is a priority item of the agenda of President Arroyo when she attends the 2009 World Economic Forum in Davos-Klosters, Switzerland late this month.
as of 01/27/2009 11:49 AM

The Travel Ban Issue

And here in Nigeria with our jobs intact, with very good working conditions, no need for GMA to market - and yet a Travel Ban is imposed ...very ironic indeed!

NGOs oppose Arroyo order to market OFWs
By Veronica UyINQUIRER.net
First Posted 08:11:00 01/23/2009
MANILA, Philippines --
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo's Administrative Order 247 to market overseas Filipino workers is against the spirit of Republic Act 9422, which gives the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration stronger regulatory powers, the Philippine Migrants Rights Watch said.
AO 247 instructs the POEA to "execute a paradigm shift by refocusing its functions from regulation to full blast market development efforts, the exploration of frontier, fertile job markets for Filipino expatriate workers." To achieve this, the President ordered the Cabinet to "render full support to the POEA so it can aggressively deploy Filipino expatriates ... with urgency and unbothered by institutional hurdles."
"Is this the way for government to respond to the global economic meltdown? Subjecting more of our people to external market conditions where we have almost no control of?" asked the NGO network that includes the Apostleship of the Sea (AOS), the Center for Migrant Advocacy (CMA), the Development Action for Women Network (DAWN), and Episcopal Commission for Migrant and Itinerant People (ECMI).
In a statement signed by members of the network of non-government organizations on migrant workers, the group suggested that the government veer away from the economic principle that is dependent on external markets, and instead beef up the domestic economy that would create full employment in the country.
The network also suggested that the budget be reviewed so that the country's needs for job generation and poverty alleviation would be reflected, instead of automatic debt repayments. "The President was with us in this campaign [for RA 9422] which took 11 years before [it] was finally enacted in 2006. She certified this bill as urgent in the 12th and 13th Congress, but now she is setting it aside in favor of aggressive marketing of our people overseas," it said.
"PMRW is aghast by this government's ineptness to the real needs of its suffering peoples. Rather than see the economic situation as a challenge and come up with a long-term viable and developmental policy for the country that is long overdue, the government is again relying on the migrants and OFWs to salvage the economy and keep it afloat.
"If we indeed consider them as our modern-day heroes, then let us treat them as such and guarantee that they reap the rewards of their labor and sacrifices," it added. At the same time, the PMRW also criticized AO248, or the so-called "payback program," which creates a Filipino Expatriate Livelihood Support Fund to help returning OFWs.
It said that with the initial funds of P250 million coming from the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration, this supposed help from government is actually coming from the OFWs themselves, whose $25 OWWA membership fee funds OWWA. "OWWA is purely OFW money, mostly illegally collected from the OFWs themselves," it said. PMRW said the OWWA membership fees collected from OFWs were illegal because the law provides that employers should shoulder the fees.

Travel Ban Issue

COMMENTS-

At the outset, the comments of Mr. Maynard is appreciably valued as an overview outlining of how the responsible Government Departments exploit the TRAVEL BAN to Nigeria to plunders our Constitutional rights and privileges to work and travel abroad, and impoverishes its victims.
It is noticed that our vivid hopes for the permanent lifting of the total travel ban turns out as a dull dream for all of us. Because the DFA, DOLE, POEA and BI up to now had fails to produce the appropriate decisions. They cannot even draw a conclusion of the right grammar as to what category of Migrant Workers we belong. Their system or the way of proceeding is perceived to be the source of the problems that is precisely obscures the real solution in lifting travel ban. It is also observed that the supremacy of corruption and inefficiency of administration prevalently exists in the International Airport (e.g. NAIA and Cebu). The illegal activity of bribery is of course backed by the powerful Officials. How then do we expect that these responsible Government Department Officials will be able to effectively assert the lifting of the travel ban particularly now that they found the pitiful Filipino Workers of Nigeria is the best prey or easy victims?


The Philippine Embassy in Nigeria, who is supposed to function as the avenue to provide the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) of the significant correct information about the real situation and condition of our working environment, just seems unable to inspire hope that the lifting of the TRAVEL BAN to NIGERIA will come.

My fellow workers (kasama) this is a kind of Political and Economic Crisis we are into this time, I knew how you’re feeling of anguish and distress, but please always maintain calmness as usual as we are inching forward our struggle. We are on the same boat overwhelmed and harassed by this problem. Let us continue pushing our appeal for the lifting of Travel Ban.

Mga kasama, salamat po sa inyong mga panunuring ginawa patungkul sa isyu na eto.

Best regards
Noel S. Archide
INTELS Nigeria

TRAVEL BAN

SA MGA KAPUSONG PINOY

Let's say, 'ang lahat ay nakukuha sa panalangin'....
and with the (biggest) help from the director of CMA Ellene Sana,

WE NOW HAVE A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS!

TRAVEL BAN

OFW deployment ban stays in Nigeria, 4 Middle East countries
12/14/2008 11:28 PM
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MANILA, Philippines – The Philippine government will keep in force the ban on deploying workers to Nigeria and four Middle East countries, a decision made after President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo met with her ambassadors to those countries.
Besides Nigeria, the deployment ban is in effect in Jordan, Syria, Iraq, and Lebanon, according to a Malacañang statement issued on Sunday by Assistant Press Secretary Romeo Montenegro.
Earlier, Arroyo met with her ambassadors to assess the situation in the five countries as to the safety of the Filipino workers.
Those countries may need thousands of foreign workers, but Arroyo stressed that the government would not compromise the security of Filipino workers.
Arroyo directed Ambassador Roy Cimatu, special Philippine envoy to the Middle East, to come up with an assessment of the situation in the five countries.
Cimatu's report will be discussed in March 2009 during a review of the situation in those five countries.
Meanwhile, the Philippines will open an embassy in Damascus, Syria, in February 2009 under Ambassador Wilfredo Cuyugan to better serve the needs of the 15,000 Filipinos working there.
The Palace statement said 80 percent of Filipinos in Syria are undocumented. - GMANews.TV

___________________________________

While the above news greeted us this early morning and dampened everyone's spirit (again!), I also read 'The Famous Shoe Story' of a very unpopular President. got to share with you... cause my imagination is running riotous... what if.......?

The Shoe

A shoe is raised during a protest against the visit to Iraq of US President George W. Bush, in the Shiite stronghold of Sadr City in Baghdad, Iraq, Monday. Dec. 15, 2008. Iraqi journalist Muntadar al-Zeidi threw his shoes at President George W. Bush during a press conference in Baghdad on Sunday.

President Bush ducks after a man threw a shoe at him during a joint statement with Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki in Baghdad, December 14, 2008.

A combo of images from footage broadcast by the Al-Arabiya news channel shows US President George W. Bush reacting as an Iraqi journalist hurls one of his shoes at him during a joint press conference with Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki in Baghdad. The Iraqi journalist who hurled his shoes at Bush "detested America" and had been plotting such an attack for months, colleagues have said.
(AFP/null)

Iraq's Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki tries to protect George W. Bush after an Iraqi journalists threw his shoes the US leader during a joint press conference in Baghdad. It will likely rank as one of the more bizarre episodes of his presidency -- George W. Bush, surely one of the most protected leaders in history, ducking as two size 10 shoes hurtled in his direction.

A sister of Iraqi journalist Muntadar al-Zeidi watches a video of her brother throwing shoes at the US President Bush, at his apartment in in Baghdad, Iraq, Monday, Dec.15, 2008. al-Zeidi threw his shoes at President George W. Bush during a press conference in Baghdad on Sunday, while yelling in Arabic: 'This is a farewell kiss, you dog,this is from the widows, the orphans and those who were killed in Iraq.'
(AP Photo/Hadi Mizban)

Security forces pounce on an Iraqi journalist who caused a furore when he hurled his shoes at visiting US President George W. Bush during a press conference in Baghdad. Iraq faced mounting calls on Monday to release the journalist who hurled his shoes at Bush, an action branded shameful by the government but hailed by many in the Arab world as an ideal parting gift to the unpopular US president.
(AFP/Saul Loeb)

President Bush' comment? the shoe is size 10.

COURAGEOUS SEAMEN

We have read or listened to the most harrowing stories of Filipino Seafarers caught in the business of “oil bunkering” here in Niger Delta, Nigeria , and they keep on happening and being highlighted in the news, but not the story of the 4 Filipino seamen who refused to succumb to earning a few dollars more…. AT LAST REAL OFW HEROES THAT SPEAK OF HONESTY OF THE FILIPINO WORKING CLASS.

Capt. Roy C. Hidalgo, Divers Rudy B. Torres, Gil G. Canete, Jaime Jimenez - Four good seamen who refused to follow the evil instruction of the Greek principal to do OIL BUNKERING. And so, Capt. Hidalgo abandoned the ship he manned, tagging with him the 3 Filipino divers. Ran they did and being helped by some Filipinos working in Lagos . They found their way to our Philippine Embassy in Abuja , Nigeria , where they received good assistance from our Embassy staff led by our Charge D’Affaires, Atty. Alimatar Garangan.

Yes, oil bunkering is sabotaging the economy of Nigeria , and unfortunately our Filipino seamen are thrown in to a difficult situation.
Moral questions arise.
‘Do I allow myself to be a pawn on the “money” board?’
‘What if I get caught and land in the prison that is described as a “death wish” zone?’
‘But money is good, and how could I say no to my principal, or how could I not be a part of the game when majority of the crew cannot do anything but follow the instruction, albeit evil it may be?’

Result, 22 more Filipino seamen caught 3 weeks back, plus another 15 more just caught this week are now in the hands of the Nigerian Authorities. For the nth time same story involving the same players, and poor Filipino seafarers who just wanted to give a good life to their loved ones are forced between the rock and a stone, unknown to them.

But not Roy, Rudy, Gil & Jaime. They are now on the way home, without fanfare. But this is the kind of story that CFO and CMA must be pleased to hear and crave about and to highlight the good deed these 4 Filipino seamen just did.

Capt. Hidalgo, Rudy, Gil and Jim
As Capt. Hidalgo courageously said during Pusong Pinoy’s Chirstmas Party last Dec. 7 held at the Phil. Embassy, “Never mind if I will lose the opportunity to man a ship again, but at least I did not surrender my faith”.

From what Capt. Roy Hidalgo mentioned, he intends to put up a case against SEAGEM, the manning agency in the Philippines that kept on supplying Filipino seamen, in spite of knowing the tragic incidents involving their recruits, or is SEAGEM having a major role on the conspiracy? FOR A FEW DOLLARS MORE, WE FILIPINOS CAN PUSH OUR COUNTRYMEN TO TRAGEDY.

Whilst we land-based professional OFWs here in Nigeria do offer our prayers for the early release of our countrymen caught for doing the dirty job, something must be done from the root cause of the problem.

MUST WE CONTINUE ALLOWING FILIPINO SEAMEN TO ENTER THE NIGER DELTA IN NIGERIA IN SPITE OF THE MANY INCIDENTS INVOLVING THE SAME MANNING AGENCY?

It is hurting the reputation of our country, and being labeled now as a nation of thieves! This tag IS REVERBERATING LOUDLY IN OUR EARS AND POUNDING LOUDLY IN OUR HEARTS.

SOMETHING MUST BE DONE NOW BY OUR GOVERNMENT, AND NOT WHEN THE PROBLEM IS TOO SERIOUS TO HANDLE! The Philippine Media should be advised and make a noise and our POEA officials have to think twice in stopping the likes of SEAGEM.

Merry Christmas to all,
Mr. Lito Nucum

President
PUSONG PINOY ASSOCIATION
FCT Abuja , Nigeria

OIL BUNKERERS

This was the news and many similar ones in the Nigerian and Reuters dailies. It was on the news again as there were claims that 6 of the Filipinos were released by the JTF which they denied. Meaning, since they were caught, they're still in custody.

Four seamen, with their captain, whose consciences and fear in God, and had known the consequences of these actions, refused to obey the orders of the shipowner to do oil bunkering, jumped ship and now safely en route home.

The news when the Pinoy Seamen were caught are reprinted here as many of us do not exactly know what happened. Questions were still unanswered.

The seafarers were believed to be recruited by an agency in the Philippines. How then, did POEA allow them to go? Was there any authentication regarding the ownership of the vessel? It was claimed that the same set of bunkerers were caught.


Even as the Charge d'Affaire has gone to Qatar this morning together with the other troubled nations' Phil. ambassadors (Lebanon, Kenya, Jordan, Syria) foremost of which I believe is to talk about the TRAVEL BAN imposed on us OFWs (to Nigeria),
the fact remains that in the eyes of the Nigerians (government)
the Filipinos are just hanging around to create trouble (in this case, oil bunkerers, in short 'oil thieves').

The Philippine Government, in imposing this ban, believes that it is safeguarding the interest of the Filipinos. The Philippine Government intentionally forgot that in doing so, the Nigerian Government was painted and labeled as a 'dangerous' country - a very unfair assessment. Now, this 'dangerous country' caught these Philippine nationals bunkering their oil and the bunkerers are still in prison. The same bunkerers were allegedly in connivance with the militants.


Our government labeled Nigeria as a 'dangerous country'. The OFWs here in Nigeria proved otherwise.


The Nigerians labeled the Filipinos as 'thieves' and the proofs are still with them.


So, what now?
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NIGERIAN TRIBUNE

Alleged oil bunkering: Why we swooped on 22 Filipinos - Naval Task Force Sylvester Idowu, Warri - updated: Tuesday 25-11-2008
The suspectsOperatives of the Joint Task Force code named Operation Restore Hope recently paraded 22 Filipinos arrested by the Naval Task Force of the group for alleged bunkering.
The suspects were arrested aboard a vessel named MT KUA but suspected to have been registered as MT AKUADA with 12,000 metric tones (about 84,000 barrels) of crude oil estimated at about one billion naira.
Coordinator of the Joint Media Campaign Centre, Lt-Col Rabe Abubakar who was assisted by the Public Relations Officer of NNS, Delta, Lt Sikiru Adigun said the suspects were apprehended following a tip off.
According Lt-Col Abubakar, following intelligence report, the Naval Task Force Patrol team laid ambush for the vessel and upon sailing out, the security operatives swooped on the bunkerers.
He disclosed that there was resistance from some militants which led to a gun battle but that the security operatives were able to repel the hoodlums and piloted the ship to a more secure location.
Meanwhile, tight security has been weaved around a vessel by operatives of the Nigerian Navy, NNS, Delta, Warri and undercover security men for alleged oil bunkering.
Some of the Filipinos were also moved to Naval Barracks while those that will keep the vessel afloat were only allowed on board the ship but under the watchful eyes of armed security guards.
Security sources told Crime & Security that the vessel sailed to Delta Ports, amidst tight security.
It was gathered that the need to beef up security around the vessel and the Filipins was as a result of series of attacks on some oil installations when the arrest was carried out.
Crime & Security learnt that following the arrest, in which naval personnel bullets felled two militants in an attempt to foil the interception by the security agents, moves were made by unidentified prominent indigenes of the state to secure the release of the vessel and the crew members.
When the overtures were rebuffed, the people behind the bunkering then threatened to attack oil installations to force the release of the vessel and the Filipinos.
“We refused to cooperate with them. They indeed attacked some oil installations and security posts in some areas. That’s why we beef up security around the vessel and the Filipinos”, the source said.
The Filipinos and their Nigerian counterparts had successfully loaded the vessel from crude oil bunkered from Bedfut point in Warri South West Local Government Area of the state and were sailing out when naval patrol team swooped on them.
The Public Relations Officer of NNS, Delta, Lt Sikiru Adigun confirmed the development adding that they were awaiting further directive from the headquarters.

________________________________ VANGUARD
MT Akuada scandal: Heads may roll in JTF

Written by Emma Amaize
Wednesday, 26 November 2008
HEADS may roll in the Joint Task Force (JTF) on the Niger-Delta over the November 14 interception of a foreign vessel, MT AKUADA with 12,000 tonnes of crude oil, stolen by a syndicate of oil thieves that has some military men in its payroll.
Already, a soldier believed to be a member of the syndicate has been arrested on the orders of the Commander of the JTF, Brigadier-General Nanven Wuyep Rimtip, who is bent on stopping the oil thieves and sanitizing the task force.
A source told Vanguard, yesterday, that the suspect soldier-member of the syndicate was being interrogated at the JTF Headquarters in Effurun.
Already, preliminary investigation into the episode was said to be almost completed, but, Brigadier-General Rimtip said he was expecting the report “any moment”.
“It is certain that a Board of Inquiry will be set up to after the submission of the preliminary report to probe the involvement or otherwise of soldiers in the crude oil bunkering syndicate since it has become very obvious from available reports that some military men were conniving with the oil thieves,” a dependable source told Vanguard.
Rimtip refused to confirm the arrest or interrogation of any soldier in connection with the MT AKUADA scandal, saying, “What I know is that investigation is on.”
He, nevertheless, confirmed that men of the JTF visited the Lagos office of the company, Triumphant Marines that applied for the vessel to be allowed to come into the country for repairs only to be discovered that it was a fake address.
At the JTF headquarters, it was learnt that fresh panic gripped the men and officers when one of their colleagues, now under interrogation, was brought in handcuffs from Escravos. It is feared that if he spills the beans, a lot of officers and men involved in the illegal business with crude oil thieves would be exposed.
Twenty-two Filipinos who formed the crew of the ship were arrested along with the vessel by the JTF and in an audacious bid to arm-twist the JTF boss to release the stolen crude to them, crude oil thieves hijacked a ship, MV Thor Galaxy, which was conveying equipment for the Escravos Gas-to-Liquid project to the Warri Ports.
Following a 24-hour ultimatum by Brigadier-General Rimtip on the armed militia to release the ship or he would bombard the hideout of the oil thieves in any community or location they were hibernating in the creeks, the traditional ruler of Gbaramtu kingdom and other eminent leaders intervened and got the boys to release the vessel.
While the impasse between the JTF and the crude oil thieves over the seizure of MT AKUADA and its content lasted, the Delta State Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan insisted that the law should take its course.Brigadier-General Rimtip told Vanguard that the whole thing about the application for the ship to come in for repairs was a fraud, as those who wrote the application in the first instance used a fake name, MT KUA for the vessel, when the real name is MT AKUADA.
What has remained baffling to the authorities of the JTF, even up till yesterday, is that some members of the task force knew about the deal and connived with the oil bunkerers in carrying out the economic sabotage and that is what the Board of Inquiry is going to unravel.
http://www.nairaland.com/nigeria/topic-196727.0.html
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THIS DAY
Topic: 22 Philipinos Nabbed Again For Oil Bunkering In Nigeria DeepZone
22 Philipinos Nabbed Again For Oil Bunkering In Nigeria
« on: November 17, 2008, 10:12 AM »
Again, JTF nabs 22 Filipinos for oil bunkering

From Segun James in Yenagoa and Omon-Julius Onabu in Warri, 11.16.2008Sunday, November 16, 2008

The fact that foreigners are the major players in the bunkering activities along the nation’s waterways was again proved right at the weekend when security operatives nabbed 22 Filipinos with 12,000 metric tonnes (84,000 barrels) of crude oil in the Warri area of Delta State. AThe arrest of the Filipinos is coming barely four months after another set of 14 Filipinos were arrested at the Brass area of Bayelsa State for indulging in similar offence.The 22 Filipinos were arrested aboard a foreign registered vessel, MT AKUADA at the Escravos area of Warri.THISDAY gathered that the ship was operating under a fictitious name of MT KUA when it was arrested, but a search through the document soon revealed the original name of MT AKUADA.The ship was said to be moving from one vandalised oil pipeline to the other lifting oil when it was arrested. The JTF in a statement by its Coordinator, Joint Media Campaign Centre, Lt. Col. Rabe Abubakar, claimed that the security outfit was respo-nsible for the arrest. The claim was however debu-nked by his Naval counterpart from the Warri Naval Base, NNS Delta, Lt. Sikiru Adigun, who accused the JTF of laying claim to an assignment handled by the navy. The task force had in a statement claimed that: “The JTF in its intensified effort to eradicate illegal oil bunkering and other related sabotage-activities in the Niger-Delta, has yet intercepted and arrested a vessel, MT AKUADA carrying 12,000 metric tonnes of suspected bun-kered crude oil with 22 Filipinos on board”. “The vessel was arrested while transiting Escravos waters in Delta state”, it further said, adding, “Preliminary investigation conducted aboard the ship revealed that the vessel’s actual name was MT AKUADA and the product it was conveying was illegal oil from Bedfut Point in Delta State, obtained from crude oil thieves using barges.“The JTF is committed to carrying out its statutory duties taking into consideration the rule of law and due process and at the same time will continue to apprehend the illegal oil bunkerers wherever they may be operating and whoever is involved.“At least we are gradually catching up with the big guns in illegal oil business. Details will be made public as soon as possible,” the taskforce stated.In its counter claim, Adigun said, the Navy arrested the vessel and informed the authorities of JTF, Op RH about the development.Adigun said: “At about 9 am on Friday, the Naval patrol intercepted a foreign ship with suspected crude oil of about 12,500 metric tonnes at Escravos Bar transiting out of channels.Also, the Commanding Officer of NNS Delta, Navy Capt. Peter Agba, corroborated Adigun’s claim that the JTF’s action is an attempt to claim credit for a feat it did not work for.However, the JTF spok-esman, Abubakar has said that the outfit had begun to find answers to the frequently asked question on its failure in the past to apprehend the masterminds of the illegal oil bunkering operations in the region.“At least we are gradually catching up with the big guns in illegal oil business”, an excited Abubakar told THISDAY. He said members of the public would soon be given details of the latest development involving foreign saboteurs of the Nigerian economy.On July 10 this year, 14 Filipinos were arrested in similar circumstances, on board a Panamanian vessel, MV Lina.The 14 Filipinos who were later paraded before newsmen in Warri on Wednesday, July16, 2008 include Ray P. Chavez (who is the Captain of the vessel), Nelso Corpin, Antonio Norgino, Tirso Olaviar, Jerome Competente, Joselin Gabion and Rexy Aldovino. Others are Rito Bajoyo, Jun Garcenila, Judel Garcenila, Eugeno Mediano, Mark Jordan Dimaano, Jose Evelito Palimero and Louis Givesania.The dust raised following the subsequent arraignment and release of the 14 suspects on bail by the relevant security agencies in Nigeria has hardly settled. http://odili.net/news/source/2008/nov/16/200.html

Feedbacks from Nigerians
james1 (m)
Re: 22 Philipinos Nabbed Again For Oil Bunkering In Nigeria
« #1 on: November 17, 2008, 11:56 AM »
Hi.They should be given the maximum sentence by a competent court.If Nigerians do this in their country.they won't escape.
DeepZone
Re: 22 Philipinos Nabbed Again For Oil Bunkering In Nigeria
« #2 on: November 17, 2008, 12:14 PM »
50 did it before and I don't know what happened to them. I think Nigeria deported them back to phillipines and now more 22.
ziddy (m)
Re: 22 Philipinos Nabbed Again For Oil Bunkering In Nigeria
« #3 on: November 17, 2008, 12:43 PM »
most of these Asians hanging around in Nigeria are criminals. they are a big part of our economic problemsthey bribe government officials to get concessions, to dump substandard goods on us and undercut our local industries, to get contracts they know they don't have the technical capacity to execute.if only our leaders would listen more to their conscience than their potbellies, this country might still make it. maybe. . .
OBVIOUS
Re: 22 Philipinos Nabbed Again For Oil Bunkering In Nigeria
« #4 on: November 17, 2008, 03:43 PM »
Quote from: ziddy on November 17, 2008, 12:43 PM
most of these Asians hanging around in Nigeria are criminals. they are a big part of our economic problemsthey bribe government officials to get concessions, to dump substandard goods on us and undercut our local industries, to get contracts they know they don't have the technical capacity to execute.if only our leaders would listen more to their conscience than their potbellies, this country might still make it. maybe. . .True talk. If its not the white man, its the asians, L O L
iceblue (f)
Re: 22 Philipinos Nabbed Again For Oil Bunkering In Nigeria
« #5 on: November 17, 2008, 04:03 PM »
and i suppose they did it without inside help? some of our suffering is brought upon us ourselves. if they had been exposed rather than aided, they would have quit by now. these philipinos seem to be starting a trend. abi dokubo and ateke