MANILA, Philippines (UPDATED) – Vice President Jejomar Binay returned to Manila from his trip to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on Friday, January 15, with 5 maltreated overseas Filipino workers (OFWs).

Binay, with help from friends and supporters, shouldered the plane tickets of OFWs Rosminda Baui, Belsie Espine, Leowilyn Tan, Angelyn Tak, and Lucrecio Insesto, whom the Vice President met at the Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO) at the Consulate General of the Philippines in Dubai on Thursday.

“Bago kami umalis papunta dito sa Dubai, nalaman namin na may mga kababayan tayo na pwede nang umuwi at kulang na lang ang pamasahe kaya minabuti namin na tumulong sa kanila,” said Binay.

(Before going to Dubai, we were told that we have countrymen who are already cleared to fly home but who could not afford to buy return tickets, so we decided to help them.)

“May mga nagmagandang loob na kababayan natin sa Pilipinas, mga businessmen at private individuals, na nagbigay ng pambili ng tickets. Natutuwa at nagpapasalamat ako sa kanila sa ibinigay nilang tulong upang makapiling na ulit ng ating mga kababayan ang kanilang mga mahal sa buhay,” the Vice President added. 

(There were Filipinos, including businessmen and private individuals, who gave money to buy their tickets. I am thankful for the help they extended so these OFWs would be able to return to their loved ones back home.)

The opposition standard-bearer finished his 3-day trip to the UAE, where he met with several OFWs and government leaders to discuss labor, migration, and investment issues.

He has regained his spot as the top presidential candidate in the latest Social Weather Stations survey released Friday morning. (READ: Binay’s strategy of silence)

Clearer guidelines for undocumented OFWs 

Among the 5 OFWs who returned with Binay is Baui, a 27-year old single mother from Cabagan, Isabela.

She was physically abused by her employer, who refused to let her go when her  two-year contract expired. Baui ran away from her employer on December 23, 2015, but did not file a police complaint. 

Espine, a 36-year-old household worker, hails from EB Magalona, Negros Occidental.

She was brought to the Dubai International Airport by her employer on September 21, 2015, but she could not board her Manila-bound flight because immigration records show that she did not have the necessary documents to return to the Philippines. Because her employer refused to take her back, Espine sought shelter at the POLO Center.

Tan, clerk for a manpower agency in Dubai, said she was sexually harassed by the marketing manager in her company. The 31-year-old from Wao, Lanao del Sur, decided to seek the assistance from the POLO Center when the man continued to pursue her. Tan went to Dubai on October 27, 2015. 

Tak, 26, was expecting work either as a waitress or receptionist when she went to the UAE on June 23, 2015. However, the Kiamba, Sarangani, native was made to work as a household worker instead. Tak was paid a low salary and suffered abuse from her employer, so she ran away on December 20, 2015.

Insesto, a 42-year-old from Zamboanga Sibugay, also escaped from her employer who reportedly punched her in the stomach and did not give her enough food. She said she was also made to work for 7 days a week. 

The Vice President, upon hearing their stories, called for clearer guidelines on the repatriation of undocumented OFWs. (PODCAST: Ethical recruitment of OFWs)

“Dapat may malinaw din na patakaran para sa mga undocumented na kababayan natin, paano sila matutulungang makauwi. Problema pa rin ang illegal recruitment kaya dapat tuloy-tuloy ang kampanya laban dito,” said Binay, who was presidential adviser on OFW concerns from the start of the Aquino administration in 2010 until he resigned in July 2015.

(There should be clearer rules on how undocumented OFWs can be assisted when they want to return to the Philippines already. Illegal recruitment remains a problem so we need to continue fighting this.)

He also advised OFWs to avoid illegal recruiters. (READ: ‘Slow’ gov’t process makes OFWs fall for illegal recruiters)

“Sa ating mga kababayan, pakiusap natin na dumaan sa ligal na proseso (To our countrymen, please go through the legal process). In the long-term, as I have always said, my administration will give priority to providing jobs in the Philippines so that overseas employment becomes a choice, not a necessity,” Binay said. – Rappler.com