7 out of 10 OFWs charged for crimes abroad forced to declare insanity
Ding Cervantes
Philippine Star
ANGELES CITY – Seven out of 10 Filipino workers (OFWs) charged with crimes abroad are forced to declare themselves insane to get clemency, according to a study by Migrante International (MI).
“This is because officials from the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) compel them to use insanity for possible exoneration, and not because the accused were actually mentally ill,” the MI said.
The group revealed yesterday its study as it announced that it would seek a court order against the “ implementation of psychiatric tests for OFWs, including those departing for the first time.
“We are going to court to stop the implementation of the mandatory tests. The tests are clearly discriminatory against departing domestic workers,” MI spokesperson Garry Martinez said.
He lamented that “psychiatric tests are additional burden to the OFWs and another source for government to exact unreasonable fees from us,” Martinez said.
The MI blamed President Arroyo, Presidential Adviser on Migrant Affairs Vice President Noli de Castro, and Global Forum on Migration and Development (GFMD) chairman Esteban Conejos for the impending imposition of the psychiatric tests.
MI chairperson Connie Bragas-Regalado claimed that the DFA is “covering up the crimes of abusive employers so it can paint a good picture of migration in time for the GFMD to be hosted by the Philippine government from Oct. 28 to 29.”
“The psychiatric test plan is indicative of what Conejos will bring to the upcoming GFMD in October. The government will merely play lip service to protecting and empowering migrants,” Regalado said.
She said, “distressed OFWs should be given protection instead of psychiatric tests.”
“The DFA should realize that deplorable working conditions such as verbal, physical, emotional and sexual abuse, torture and non-payment of wages are major factors that drive OFWs to the brink of insanity. They were totally sane before they left for jobs abroad,” she added.
MI alleged that “Philippine embassy officials tell OFWs to admit crimes they did not commit or to declare themselves insane just so as to avoid being persecuted and jailed abroad.”
“DFA officials should have their heads examined if they really believe that mandatory psychiatric tests could help prevent OFWs from snapping in their workplace,” Regalado said.
“They can also impose psychiatric tests on abusive employers. They see only the crimes committed by OFWs, while always turning a blind eye on the employers’ crimes,” she lamented.
She said that the MI, the International Migrants’ Alliance, the Asia-Pacific Mission for Migrants, and Ibon International will hold the International Assembly of Migrants and Refugees (IAMR) simultaneously with the GFMD “to tackle genuine migrant issues such as forced migration and poverty.”
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