Senate president and presidentiable Manny Villar is in very serious trouble. His foreign affairs and OFW adviser, Ambassador Lauro Baja is being charged for alleged human trafficking, racketeering and forced labor by a fellow Filipino.
What now, Mr. Villar? Should we be concerned, since, you said in that television commercial of yours, that we need to report those who commit human trafficking and such crimes against our Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW)?
How will we do that now when the very person you made as your adviser is himself, deeply involved in such affairs? How will you now justify your OFW campaign? Is the TVC just a ploy of yours to hide the fact that your adviser is one of the “mastermind” in his alleged human smuggling operations in the States?
How many Bajas do you have in your circle of influence, Mr. Senate President? I’m sure you checked each and every one’s background. Are you sure that every adviser has been checked out? Do you have others involved in other rackets, like jueteng, drugs, and smuggling?
More than this though, if news about Ambassador Lauro Baja is true, that’s a big blot in the eye for the Philippine foreign service. And it seems that he’s not the only one involved in this kind of racket. A few months ago, another Filipino diplomat pleaded guilty for a similar offense, that of forced labor and racketeering. What happened to our once prestigious foreign affairs?
This department has been our source of pride in the past. Many idealistic individuals like me dreamt of someday working there. I did manage to work there as head of the economic diplomacy unit of the DFA think-tank. It was a brief stint. Though entry was very competitive, I decided to go back to media, my first love. Unlike any other government agency, the DFA seems to be the most viable and the most reputable place for one to work. It has the least record for corruption, unlike the BIR and Customs. With this report on Baja’s and other similar incidents involving our envoys, a thorough investigation should be undertaken.
This is a very serious offense which merits a total overhaul, if not, a total re-examination of the list of individuals we allow to serve our fellow Filipinos living abroad. Baja is a career diplomat who once served the UN Security Council. What has prompted him to do such a despicable thing? Was it low pay? Was it for his retirement or pension funds? What is happening to our society that the least corrupt government agency has been turned into a place of slave traders?
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Touche, Patricio!
Mr. Villar had been out in the presidential derby early taking cause with Migrante. Sad thing is, he got burned, as you said.
That’s why we should not allow these politians to hijack issues they barely understand, nor practiced by their supposed expert ‘advisers.’
The cry should be: “Insulate the bureaucracy from politics!!!”
Maybe Manny Villar should change his motto to “Dahil sa Sipag, Slavery, at Tiyaga”……
Please visit the link below to view DAMAYAN’s press announcement about the campaign for “Justice for Marichue! End Trafficking and Modern-Day Slavery of All Filipina Domestic Workers!”
http://ugnayan.blogspot.com/2008/07/justice-for-marichu-end-trafficking-and.html
cheap electioneering manny! Filipinos are not stupid to see your real intentions. Besides, are the funds used in these repatriations your personal funds? or funds of the Office of the Senate President? because even for one centavo of taxpayers money was used here, you cannot claim any recognition. its your job! by the way submit your expenses to COA. Its my money too you know, it ought to be audited.
http://www.sulyapinoy.org/news-and-headlines-f11/fewa-re-launches-no-to-nps-sss-campaign-t1540.htm
sana po mabigyan nyo ng pansin ang sites na ito gusto ko lang po iparating na napakawalang katarungan naman po yata ng gusto nilang mangyare ang perang inaasahan at pinakaipon ng aking asawa na nasa korea ay hinde agad namin mapapakinabangan sana naman po ay matulungan nyo kami senator manny villar.sana bago nila ito desisyunan ay isaalang alang naman muna nila ang isang tao kung papayag ba or hinde sa gusto nila mangyare,karapatan naman nila yun dahil tatlong taon ang kanilang tiniis para kitain ang perang gagamitin sa pagsisimula ng negosyo ay kanila pa nilang pag iinteresan.sana po ang matulungan nyo po kami.
Hello po,
Hinanap ko po talaga ang site na ito upang maiparating sa inyo ang aming kahilingan.Alam ko pong tumutulong kayo sa mga OFW na katulad naming nangangailangan.Gusto na po sana naming umuwi pero wala po kaming magawa dahil sa TNT po kami kailangan po namin ang tulong nyo kahit na sa pamamagitan ng Ticket dahil kapag naghintay po kami sa kilos ng ating consulate dito ay lalo po kaming tumatagal.Di po natutugunan ang aming kahilingan.Isa po akong byuda at may tatlong anak na dapat po ay nakauwi na ako ngunit di po naibigay ang sahod ko.Magmula po nong tumakas ako ay mahigit ng anim na taon nais ko na pong makita ang mga anak ko pero dahil sa ganitong kalagayan ay wala po kaming magawa.Sana po ay matugunan ninyo ang aking kahilingan.Maraming salamat po…
Lubos na gumagalang,
Dolly ng Jeddah
Kmusta na po kayo sana ay matulungal nyo ako sa problema ko sa bansang ito,pero ang problema ko po ay wala sa aking employer nasa mga taga embajada po ng pilipinas dito sa bansang Venezuela,caracas hangang ngayon po ayaw pa din po akong bigyan ng maliwanag na sagot ng mga taga embajada dito nasa dati daw naming ambajador ang desisyon gusto po akong isama ng amo ko sa bansang panama pero dahil sa ma-eexpired na po ang aking passport ay malabong mangyari at baka mawalan pa po ako ng trabaho pag nagkataon sana po ay matulungan ninyo ako.
An Open Letter to Senator Manny Villar
http://realestateguru.multiply.com
I am Amos “mOi” Victorio, I don’t know if you are aware of my name, but last year 2007 I was awarded Top Business Partner representing Premier Communities Partners Inc. a subsidiary company of Communities Philippines Inc. a company under Vista Land and Lifescapes a publicly listed company you founded and family owned majority shares. I think you attend the Awards Night at Insular Auditorium at Filinvest Corporate City.
First, I am sorry to see the news today that you are replaced by the now Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile. Honestly, I feel glad and vindicated. I am sorry, but since year 1999 I am selling your subdivisions, and last year was when I got to the peak of my career when I got awarded for my efforts. I attributed my success to the success of your company. I would not be where I am now without Crown Asia, Camella Homes and other brands you created.
Secondly I would like to ask you, Where are my remaining receivables? Why the people that handles your company in Bulacan deprived me of receiving my remaining commission which I deserved to enjoy. Why I cannot have access to records so transactions will be transparent? Is this the “Corporate Values” your company practices? I believe this was not my orientation during my early years in your company. My poor elderly mother who once begged for the General Manager of your company to have access to my remaining receivables was totally shoved away. I am just asking for my money that I worked for. And what ever outside problems I had with other entity must not involve your company, because it is outside the company parameters and the agreement I had with your company. Unless, your people secretly conniving outside your company.
Third, where are my taxes? For years I am working as seller for your subdivisions, my commissions and other incentives was automatically deducted 10% withholding taxes. I just want to have the copies of BIR remittances; I think it is my right as a taxpayer to receive a copy of receipt that the government actually receives my money.
I am now with another developer. I am broken hearted because your company that I respected for so long and molded me to embrace real estate selling has treated me badly. There are changes and decisions I need to take, your management might not be happy and support those changes and decisions I made. But it is not an excuse for your company to deprive me of what I still deserve to have. Or I will believe that stealing might be a common practice in your company.
Lastly, just like my concern with my withholding taxes remittances. As a Filipino, I will quote Senator Jamby Madrigal as she spoke today on TV evening news that “Sipag at Tiyaga was turned to C-5 at Taga.” I hope not.
I’m actually looking for the email add of Senator Manny Villar,gusto ko po kasi humingi ng tulong sa kanya tungkol sa kalagayan namin ngayon dito sa jubail saudi arabia.maari ko po bang malaman ang email address niya.salamat po.
gud day po..senator villar.. c angel po ito tga GUIMARAS province..anak ng isang OFW na nagtatrabaho sa Riyadh, Saudi Arabia bilang isang construction foreman na kasalukuyang nakakulong doon.. sana po matulungan mo kmi.. lahat po nahingan na namin ng tulong pero wla pa rin pong resulta..ikaw nalng po ang pag-asa namin..hihintayin ko po ang response ninyo..maraming salamat po..angel
hihingi po sana ako ng contact# ninyo..salamat po..
Gud day! Sen. Manny villar Im not an ofw but im working in a recruitment agency, we have this case that one of deployed applicants went to your office complaning that His / her relatives that abroad has these delayed salary! What he was trying to ask was if you could help them to have their salary on time, they didn’t asked you send their relatives in their country of origin. Mr. Senador kung ang lahat ba ng ofw na napapauwi nyo ay mabibigyan nyo ng trabaho dito sa pilipinas. Tama rin po ba na ang lahat mali ay ibubunton sa mga recruitment agency, Paano naman po kami na mga lokal workers kung ang aming company ay isasara ng POEA dahil sa maling paraan ng iyong pagkabayani. Di po ba parang unfair din ang iyong kabayanihang kung ang OFW lang ang concerns mo.
Maraming Salamat po sana po maging fair kayo sa mga tinutulungan.
Write your comment here…
Good PM,
Hi Senator Manny Villar, I am a sister of an OFW in Dubai. We are very upset of what my sister is undergoing right now to her employer and the feedback we are receiving from her agency regarding her aired situation, same as with the response of POEA regarding our complain to her agency. We had filed a complaint to POEA last Feb 19 to be exactly, but until now we are receiving same reponse from them. Parang hindi naman po umuusad ang case ng sister ko. My sister was recruited as a Merchandiser for Al Huda Hypermar, but when she arrived in Dubai she was endorsed to work as a nanny and fulltime helper. We our shocked of the revelaton of my sister when she texted us informing us that she is attending 7 childrens and 2 houses at the same time ( her employer house and her mother employer house). She told us that she had went to her agency assisted by her employer last Feb 7, my sister was requesting if she can be transferred to other employer because she cannot attain the workload of being a nanny of 7 childrens and also she was asking why she is working as a nanny. Nakakagulat po ang sinabi niya sa amin sa naging response ng agency sa kanya, she was required to sign by a staff name Gina a document binding her to the amount of 75,000 pesos, at hindi siya pwede umalis sa employer niya hanggat hindi niya ito mabayaran at kung umalis siya ipapakulong siya. Senator Manny, is this the right assistance of the agency for an OFW who is asking for her rights? Senator Manny, the whole family is worried dahil sabi ng sister ko ng nakakapagtx pa siya samin, dumudugo ang ilong niya at madalas ng namamanhid ang katawan niya. Nag-aalala po kami sa health condition niya. Isa pa po sa reklamo ng ate ko eh hindi po siya sinasahuran ng amo niya for almost 4 months at wala po siyang rest day? Is it true Senator Manny that OFW's are not entitled for a restday? Ito po kasi ang sabi ni Gina sakin when I spoke to her, wala daw po sila makitang grounds sa employer ng kapatid ko para pull-out siya dun. Isn't it a ground na una-una, hindi po iyon ang trabaho na inapplyan ng kapatid ko, 2nd, hindi po iyon ang employer na sinabi ng agency niya ng andito pa ang kapatid ko sa Pilipinas, 3rd, hindi po siya sinasahuran ng on time, 4th, wla po siyang restday? Mas nag-aalala po ang buong pamilya ngayon sa kapatid ko dahil ng simula na pinatawag siya ng amo niya samin ay hindi na po siya nakakapagtx samin, wala na po kaming balita sa nangyari sa kanya Senator. At lalo po kami nag-alala when I received a text from an unknown person who is also in Dubai expressing her/his sympathy and concern to my sister condition and advising us to do steps to help her out of her employer.
Senator Manny sana po matulungan niyo po kami sa kalagayan ng kapatid namin, sana po matulungan niyo po siyang makaalis sa employer niya at makauwi ng Pilipinas.
The family is hoping for your assistance.