Senator Manny Pacquiao Suggests Death Penalty For Abusive Employers in Kuwait

The death of our Kababayan and Overseas Filipino Worker Joanna Demafelis sparked a lot of issues not only in the Philippines but also in the Middle East. After finding her lifeless body in the freezer, President Rodrigo Duterte immediately implemented the employment ban in Kuwait and several OFWs were flown back to the Philippines.

Because of the continuous abuse among Filipinos, the Senate decided to have a meeting to discuss what are the possible solutions to the never-ending problem in the Middle East.

Senator Manny Pacquiao’s Request

Senator Manny Pacquiao, also known as the People’s Champ when he is on the ring, is urging the Senate to re-examine the government’s labor as well as the foreign policies and programs that they have in light with the continued abuses, exploitations, and deaths of OFWs in the hands of their employers.

During his speech, Pacquiao said that he already filed Senate Resolution No. 626 urging the Senate Committees on Labor, Employment, and Human Resources and Foreign Relations to conduct a more comprehensive and exhaustive investigation regarding the deaths of the OFWs to know the extent of abuses that the employers did. This is also to determine what the government can do to prevent similar incidents from happening in the future.

We need to review the policies and responsibilities of government agencies like the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) and Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) as they heighten the accountability of recruitment agencies in our move to prevent abuses as well as combat illegal recruitment and even human trafficking.

Death Sentence for Employers?

Pacquiao also mentioned the recent case of Joanna in the hands of her former employer who is still in hiding.

Alam natin kung kelan ipinanganak si Joanna ngunit hindi natin alam kung kelan siya namatay. Nariyan ang posibilidad na mahigit isang taon na mula ng siya ay pinaslang.

The senator is also urging the Department of Labor and Employment to investigate the deaths of the other OFWs namely Liezl Truz Hukdong, Vanessa Karissha Esguerra, Marie Fe Saliling Librada, Arlene Castillo Manzano, Devine Riche Encarnacion, Patrick Sunga, and Mira Luna Juntilla.

Nanginginig ako sa galit dahil sa pang-aabuso sa ating mga OFWs. Tama na. Huwag na nating hayaan na magpatuloy ang karumal-dumal na pagtrato sa ating mga OFWs.

The lawmaker is also giving another solution to the never-ending abuse on Filipinos: death penalty for the employers.

I-death penalty nila ‘yung employer na gumawa nun at siguro, masa-satisfy tayo, magkakaroon tayo ng kaginhawaan sa puso natin, kaginhawaan ng Kuwait government na i-impose din nila ‘yung batas nila doon sa kanilang mga citizen dahil buhay itong nawala at hindi tayo parang hayop lang na basta lang patayin at aphid.

What can you say about Senator Pacquiao’s suggestion? Do you think this will help resolve the problem?