Performance audit of labor officials sought

MANILA, Philippines – Sen. Manuel Villar Jr. has called for a performance audit of the Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO) in providing assistance to Filipino workers in distress.

Responding to reports about the death of Filipina household helper Romilyn Eroy-Ibañez in Al-Khobar, Saudi Arabia last Sept. 8, Villar filed Senate Resolution 190 urging the committees on labor, employment and human resources development and foreign relations to look into the performance of POLO, the satellite office of the Department of Labor and Employment, in attending to the problems of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs).

According to reports, the 22-year-old Ibañez supposedly committed suicide inside the house of her employer.

However, the attending physician of Ibañez said that it was impossible for her to have committed suicide by stabbing herself and ingesting acid at the same time.

“The fact that many kababayan of ours continue to suffer and die overseas tells us that there is a need to review the appropriation and programs for OFW assistance. This could mean the tightening of existing laws with regard to overseas recruitment and the establishment of OFW-centered diplomatic posts and POLO offices,” Villar said.

He noted that a number of stranded migrant Filipinos in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia urgently need assistance for their repatriation.

“Our government should be aggressive in pushing for protection mechanisms of our OFWs. A people-oriented foreign relations policy should be put in place where the safety and welfare of our workers is guaranteed,” Villar said.

“There must be a system to address their needs when they encounter trouble overseas and to bring them back if need be,” he added. –Marvin Sy (The Philippine Star)