Alleged Filipina Rape Victim in Dubai to be Repatriated
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3 June 2009 – A Filipina overseas worker in Dubai who alleged that she was raped by an intruder in her
employer’s residence last month is scheduled to be repatriated to Manila.
The Philippine Consulate General in Dubai said findings by UAE police investigators showed that the Filipina’
s alleged intruder, an Indian national, was her boyfriend.
Upon learning of the incident, Consulate representatives visited the Filipina worker to look into her case and
coordinated with UAE police authorities.
UAE authorities stated that a thorough investigation of the incident and its circumstances indicates that the
relationship between the unnamed intruder and the Filipina was intimate and the alleged incident consensual.
Both were jailed for one month in Dubai on charges of immorality and will be sent back to their respective
countries.
The Consulate will continue representations with UAE authorities for the release and repatriation of the
Filipina within the month. END
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DFA-OAVS to Sign MOA with Comelec and Commission on Filipinos Overseas
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3 June 2009 – A Memorandum of Agreement that will bring the overseas registration process to Filipino
permanent migrants or permanent residents abroad will be signed between the Department of Foreign
Affairs–Overseas Absentee Voting Secretariat (DFA-OAVS), the Commission on Filipinos Overseas (CFO),
and the Commission on Elections–Committee on Overseas Absentee Voting (COMELEC-COAV) on June 4.
The MOA will formalize the agreement made by the DFA-OAVS, CFO, and COMELEC-COAV to establish an
OAV Registration Center at the CFO office in Manila.
To sign the MOA for their respective agencies are DFA Undersecretary for Special and Oceans Concerns and
Chairman of the Overseas Absentee Voting Secretariat Rafael E. Seguis, CFO Secretary Dante Ang, and
COMELEC Commissioner and Chairman of the Committee on Absentee Voting Nicodemo T. Ferrer.
This is the first time that the three agencies will collaborate to increase the participation of overseas Filipinos
to register as overseas absentee voters in order to participate in the upcoming May 2010 elections.
The establishment of the registration center aims to bring the registration process closer and more
accessible to the clientele of CFO. These include Filipino permanent migrants or permanent residents
abroad, Filipinos overseas who have become citizens of other countries, and Filipino spouses and fiancées of
foreign nationals leaving the country.
Registration activities are ongoing in all 93 Foreign Service Posts, three Manila Economic and Cultural Offices
(MECO), and one Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO). There are also registration centers at the
Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) main office and the Ninoy Aquino International Airport.
As of June 2, there are 90,801 new overseas absentee registrants. Hong Kong tops the list with 8,725
registrants; followed by Los Angeles, Dubai, Singapore, London, Toronto, New York, Riyadh, Washington DC
and, Tokyo.
The registration period for overseas absentee voters is until 31 August 2009. END
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Reports from Philippine Embassies and Consulates (As of 3 June 2009)
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Caracas PE
* Three reported laboratory confirmed cases of A(H1N1) in Venezuela.
* No cases of Filipinos getting infected with the disease.
* Post continues to monitor the A(H1N1) situation and advises the Filipino community to take precautions to
avoid contracting the virus.
* Philippine Honorary Consulates under Post’s jurisdiction have also been advised to monitor their respective
areas.
Chicago PCG
* 3,676 reported confirmed and suspected cases of A(H1N1), with three deaths in 16 Midwestern states under
Post’s jurisdiction.
* There are no reported cases of affected individuals of Filipino / Filipino-American descent in Post’s
jurisdiction.
Los Angeles PCG
* 3,037 reported confirmed and suspected cases of A(H1N1), with seven deaths in five states under Post’s
jurisdiction.
* 576 confirmed and 226 probable cases of A(H1N1), with two deaths in California, 100 cases in Nevada, 542
cases in Arizona, 108 cases in New Mexico, and 1,485 cases with five deaths in Texas.
* There are no reported cases of affected individuals of Filipino / Filipino-American descent in Post’s
jurisdiction.
Shanghai PCG
* Post reported that 16 Filipinos have been released from quarantine in Shanghai following the negative test
result of the Chinese national who was earlier suspected of having contracted A(H1N1).
* The Filipino nationals were put into quarantine upon arrival in Shanghai from Manila when their fellow
passenger, a Chinese national, was found to have a body temperature of 37.9C. The Chinese national stayed
one week in the Philippines.
* During their stay in Shanghai Yichen Hotel for medical observation, Post contacted the Filipinos to assure
them of the Consulate’s support.
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Employer of 39 Filipinos in Kuwait to Renew Work Visas and Pay Salaries
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3 June 2009 – The employer of 39 factory workers in Kabd area, Kuwait has agreed to renew their work visas
and residency permits, as well as pay their delayed salaries.
Philippine Ambassador to Kuwait Ricardo M. Endaya reported to Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto G. Romulo
that Kuwait-based Medco also agreed to renew the workers’ insurance coverage simultaneously with the work
visas.
Medco likewise committed to solve the water and electricity problems at the workers accommodation facilities.
The 39 Filipino workers complained of expired work visas and residency permits, delayed salary payments,
poor housing and accommodation facilities, lack of medical and dental services, lack of insurance coverage,
among others.
Ambassador Endaya directed the Embassy’s Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO) to act on the case. The
POLO office, led by Labor Attache Josephus B. Jimenez, immediately conducted an initial investigation on the
case.
A conciliation conference between the 39 Filipinos and Medco was held on May 14. During the meeting, the
immediate payment of the workers’ one-month salary was made my Medco.
To date, all other issues raised by the workers have been addressed and specific solutions were provided.
Filipino community organizations were also tapped to provide food to the workers.
Meanwhile, Labor Attache Jimenez said the POLO welcomes any investigation on the matter as records and
documents would show that it acted with utmost concern and urgency on the complaints filed by the Filipino
workers.
He added that he welcomes any verification from non-government organizations as well as actual interviews
with the workers. END
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RP Consulate in Barcelona Celebrates National Heritage Month
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3 June 2009 - The Philippine Consulate General in Barcelona celebrated the 2009 National Heritage Month by
hosting a cultural event last May 29 at the Consulate, highlighting the beauty of traditional Philippine songs
and dances.
The event was attended by Filipino-Spanish youth and other members of the Filipino community in Barcelona.
It featured audio-visual presentations on Philippine history and culture, with focus on traditional songs and
dances, and actual performances by volunteer members of the Filipino community.
The audience was treated to a display of the Pandanggo sa Ilaw, Tinikling, Cariñosa, Sayaw sa Bangko,
Maglalatik, and other dances. They were also serenaded by performers singing harana and kundiman.
It was the first time for many of the Filipino-Spanish youth, especially those who were born and raised in
Spain, to see for themselves the beauty of Philippine traditional songs and dances. They expressed their
gratitude to the Consulate for holding the event which rekindled their sense of nationalism and appreciation of
Philippine history and culture. Some were moved to tears as they spoke about their revitalized pride in their
Filipino heritage.
In his message, Consul General Eduardo A. de Vega encouraged the guests to learn more about Philippine
culture and traditions, and for parents to continue inculcating Filipino values to their children.
He invited the youth to visit the Philippines to strengthen their roots and heritage as Filipinos. He also shared
José Rizal´s inspirational message to the Filipino youth as expressed in the immortal poem “A La Juventud
Filipina.”
The National Heritage Month celebration in Barcelona was held in cooperation with the Filipino Heritage
Festival. END
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The DFA press corps is invited to cover the following:
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WHAT : Signing of the Memorandum of Agreement between the Department of Foreign Affairs Overseas
Absentee Voting Secretariat (DFA-OAVS), the Commission on Filipinos Overseas (CFO) and the COMELEC
Committee on Overseas Absentee Voting (COMELEC-COAV) to establish a registration center for Overseas
Absentee Voters at the CFO
WHEN : 9:30 AM, Thursday, 4 June 2009
WHERE : CFO Office, Citygold Center, Paco, Manila
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Philippines-Canada Parliamentary Friendship group formed
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3 June 2009 - A Philippines-Canada Parliamentary Friendship Group was officially formed to provide a forum
for the exchange of ideas and promote the expansion of relations between the Philippines and Canada.
The Group had its founding meeting last May 12 at the Canadian Parliament, Parliament Hill, Ottawa.
Ambassador Jose S. Brillantes and Minister and Consul General Joseph Gerard B. Angeles accompanied
three congresswomen from the Philippines to the occasion namely, Hon. Liwayway Vinzons-Chato,
Representative, Lone District of Camarines Norte; Hon. Reylina G. Nicolas, Representative, 4th District of
Bulacan; and Hon. Maria Milagros H. Magsayay, Representative, 1st District of Zambales.
“The realization of a Canada-Philippines Parliamentary Friendship Group this year will highlights 60 years of
cordial and fruitful relations between the two countries,” Ambassador Brillantes said.
Member of Parliament (MP) Judy Wasylycia-Leis of Winnipeg North and MP Rod Bruinooge of Winnipeg South
were elected as Co-chairs. All MPs and Senators were invited to the inaugural meeting which saw the election
of an executive representing all political parties and the adoption of a constitution.
Important Canadian lawmakers who were present for the occasion included Parliamentary Secretary to the
Minister of Foreign Affairs Deepak Obhrai, National Democratic Party leader Jack Leyton, Shadow Minister for
Foreign Affairs Bryon Wilfert and other MPs, Parliamentary officers and staff.
“Filipino communities in almost all ridings in Canada are growing exponentially, with the Philippines recently
ascending as the largest source of foreign workers in Canada, ahead of India and China. Aside from the
opportunity to meet with counterparts, interaction between Canadian and Philippine Parliamentarians and the
Embassy will assure all parties that they are working together towards common interests, especially as
regards the welfare of Filipinos in Canada,” Ambassador Brillantes said. END
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