OFW dead. Who is to blame?
By RookRocks
@RookRocks (381)
Philippines
April 24, 2007 1:37pm CST
We have watched again in the news how another of our fellow filipinos lost her life after her misadventure in the middle east. From escaping a rape attempt of her employer, to an injury in the breast, the rejection of the hospital, and finally succumbing to breast cancer, all these string of suffering too hard to imagine.
It's apparent that once again our government fails to account to its citizens which it encourages to go abroad. However, while it is easy to blame the government on this tragic event, we must not overlook one important detail -- the woman is a TNT. An illegal migrant beyond the sight and control of our embassy.
In this case the responsibility is blurred. When the woman chose to hide beneath the radar of the embassy, is it right to blame the embassy? On the flipside, when the woman escaped the embassy's eyes, does it mean that the embassy really is to be blamed since it allowed individuals to slip their grasp? Should we hold the woman responsible for whatever consequence when she chose to seek an illegal channel to make a living? Or should we also hold the government for its rhetorics and encouragement to migrate in the first place but lacking the means of proper guidance?
It's a complex scenario. But it says a lot on the government-OFW dynamics in the Philippines.
1 response
@rsa101 (37968)
• Philippines
25 Apr 07
That is the problem with us filipino who thinks that we don't need their assistance when travelling abroad to avoid fees to when travelling abroad legally. Only to realized that its too late for them to ask for help when in grave need. I guess the embassy is not to be blamed here. Our government is doing its best to protect every citizen but if one doesn't want to in the beginning we should not blame the government for not being of help. What we should blame the government if the vicitm did go through legally and still she was harmed despite she went through many things.
@RookRocks (381)
• Philippines
25 Apr 07
Yes. I understand your point. And I do agree. People should be accountable to the consequences of their action. But we must also consider that the migration phenomena is partly our government's fault. And likewise they are responsible for whatever *unintended* consequences that follows. Just because it was illegal doesn't mean that the government could not be blamed. When you think about it, a lot of people are encouraged, no persuaded, by the government to migrate, but they are so strict on the requirments to do so. Thus those that cannot comply to such requirements are forced to find alternative means. ANother is that the government are unable to provide a good means of protection to the ofws. Most likely this is not the last case of OFW abuse that we'll here of.
@rsa101 (37968)
• Philippines
26 Apr 07
I got your point too.... But look at our government, it could not even take care of its citizen from within the country what more can you expect from the outside. Even the government is not promoting people to go and work abroad i would also be encourage to go abroad because of the situation here where politics isn't doing any good, economy is on a roller coaster ride, you'll have to make your ends meet with the measely income your receiving, etc etc... but then I would still see to it that I would have myself documented since I want to leave this country with the assurance that I would get assistance from the embassy in case of emergency cases like this. Its pretty hard for me to blame the government if in the first place you took the initiative on your own and neglected what the government is offering you as its citizen. If by chance I was neglected by the embassy despite the effort I made to make me a documented ofw then I guess i have all the rights to complain and blame the government for its misgivings. But with the case of the ofw....its very hard for her to blame the government not taking care of her since she left here without giving notice that she is leaving the country. Its like a child who is not allowed by their parents to go outside but then a child decided to escaped and met an accident outside would you blame the parents for not taking good care of their child?
