Nov 03
Two overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) sentenced to life imprisonment for drug-related offenses in the United Arab Emirates have been granted royal pardon, Malacañang announced today.
In a press briefing, Executive Secretary Eduardo R. Ermita identified the two OFWs as Editha E. Dagdag and Christian Albert Garcia.
Dagdag, the only Filipina serving life sentence at the Dubai Central jail, was granted pardon by His Highness Sheikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai.
The granting of royal pardon, according to Ermita, was the result of representations made by the Philippine Consulate General in Dubai on the occasion of Eid Al Adha (U.A.E. National Day).
Garcia, the only Filipino serving life sentence in the Emirate of Sharjah, on the other hand, was convicted in 2003.
He was granted pardon by His Highness Sheikh Sultan Bin Mohammad Al Qassimi, Ruler of Sharjah, on the occasion of Ramadan.
It was also through the representations of the Philippine government that the sentences of six OFWs charged with offenses punishable by death in different countries have been downgraded to jail terms recently.
Oct 30
More seekers for overseas employment may come from Eastern Samar as the Sangguniang Panlalawigan here is set to offer a better alternative—the “Abroad Now Pay Later” Plan.
Sangguniang Panlalawigan Member Enerio Sabulao who is the principal author of a Board Resolution, understands the plight of poor individuals who aspire for employment abroad but whose financial needs are hardly resolved out of the family’s resources.
Thus, now pending at the SP Eastern Samar, is a Resolution which among others provides a Five Hundred Thousand Peso Allocation (P500,000) exclusively for the utilization of OFW hopefuls.
This was learned from Sabulao during the Employment Congress held at the Capitol recently. The Official added that the amount can be applied for by any person who seeks employment abroad but does not have money for placement fees. He mentioned that the applicant will just have to submit a Co-Maker who has the capacity to pay back the amount loaned by the OFW, in case the borrower fails to pay back the amount he spent in the processing of his documents.
Sabulao himself takes pride for the recently conceived employment plan of the province which is also the first in the Region. However, with the forthcoming elections, he hopes the resolution will be supported by the next set of board members.
The Resolution, Sabulao said is answer to President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo’s vision for 10-million jobs creation until 2010 that is being given focused by the Eastern Samar government with the cooperation of line agencies like DOLE, POEA and TESDA.