SF advocates for OFW rights demand PNoy’s resignation

SAN FRANCISCO – Filipino American activists gathered outside the Philippine Consulate in San Francisco to protest what they say is the ongoing neglect of the Philippine government regarding overseas Filipino workers.

They say that through President Benigno Aquino III, more and more Filipinos are leaving the country every day to work elsewhere so they can support their families.

“We are calling for the immediate resignation of President Aquino because he has done nothing to make sure that the resources in the Philippines actually go to Filipinos,” said Tina Shauf of GABRIELA USA. “The conditions have worsened.”

“The Philippine government year after year for decades now since we have been colonized by the US has promoted the export of Filipinos from the Philippines,” said NAFCON president Terry Valen. “Clearly the government doesn’t care about overseas Filipino workers.”

The protest also marked the 20 year death anniversary of overseas Filipino worker Flor Contemplacion who was executed in Singapore for murder.

“That is relevant today in that we need to remember that story and continue the struggle of migrants workers here in the US and abroad because we are finding so many cases now of abuse, exploitation, wage theft, even trafficking, and near enslavement of Filipinos right here in the United States,” said Valen.

Also marking another anniversary, one year ago Filipino American organizations exposed how hundreds of teachers fell victim to the human trafficking scheme of Isidro Rodriguez who remains free to this day.

GABRIELA USA and other activists groups are holding a week-long series of protest actions in major cities throughout the US to expose what they say is the exploitation of overseas Filipino workers.

You can contact Rommel Conclara at rommel_conclara@abs-cbn.com and follow him on Twitter @rommelconclara for more information.