Abused Cebuano workers rescued in Culion, Palawan
THEY went to Palawan last week to earn a living.
But on Sunday, 43 male construction workers from the town of Pinamungajan, southern Cebu, had to be rescued.
They were clamoring to go home after being served bad food and being made to stay in poor accommodations by their foreign employer.
Pinamungajan Mayor Geraldine Yapha sought the help of Culion, Palawan Mayor Emiliano P. Marasigan Jr. to rescue the Cebuano workers .
She said the Cebuano workers are now safely with the Culion police and waiting for their transportation back to Pinamungahan.
However, the logistics of bringing home 43 persons is difficult, said the mayor.
Article continues after this advertisementShe said the town is asking a private vessel owner in Palawan to let the workers ride for free but the schedule set is still a week from now.
Article continues after this advertisement“Their families want them back already. We cannot wait for a week for the private vessel’s scheduled trip,” she said.
She said the Pinamungahan government is working with Culion local officials, Vice Gov. Agnes Magpale’s Office and Provincial Social Welfare Office,
“The only way, aside from the airplane, to transport them back here is through a vessel or pumboat that would bring them to Iloilo. From Iloilo, they could travel to Negros where they could board a barge bound for Toledo city . We are considering all options,” she said.
Yapha said she did not know about the mass recruitment until the workers’ families pleaded for help.
The workers accepted to work for a foreigner who wants to build a beach resort in an island in Palawan, she said.
They were promised decent wages and accomodation.
Vice Governor Magpale said a complaint for illegal recruitment and traffickcould be prepared against the foreigner.
She said that aside from working to transport the Pinamungahan workers home, authorities are gathering data about the recruiter and the employer.
“We can consider this trafficking because when they reached the island, the salary was not given. The agreement was not satisfied,” she said./Correspondent Peter L. Romanillos
