Ople Center warns Filipino fishermen in Saudi Arabia
The Blas F. Ople Policy Center, a nonprofit organization that assists distressed migrant workers, warned Filipino fishermen based in Saudi Arabia not to cross into Eritrean waters, because doing so would expose them to risks of piracy and detention.
The Ople Center issued this warning as it recently welcomed home nine Filipino fishermen who were deported by the government of Eritrea after being caught illegally fishing in their territorial seas. Pirates caught four of the fishermen and brought the OFWs to a secluded island. The pirates eventually turned the fishermen over to the Eritrean coast guard.
“Filipino fishermen based in Saudi Arabia should resist the temptation to illegally fish outside the Kingdom’s borders particularly in the seas of Eritrea where piracy has become a major concern,” the Center said.
The nine fishermen who arrived last Thursday via Turkish Airlines from Eritrea, were identified as: 1) Glen Telino of Benguet 2) Richard Echevarria from Padre Burgos, Quezon 3) Raymund Luzara from Lucena City 4) Richard Luzara from Lucena City 5) Ronald Lacno from San Andres, Quezon
6) Leody Leonino from Quezon Province
7) Leloy Medalla from Bacoor City, Cavite 8) Jumar Estriba from Cebu City 9) Bobby Lampago from Palawan City
Four of these fishermen were declared missing in September 2013 after their fishing vessel sailed into Eritrean waters. They have been working in Saudi Arabia as fishermen for several years. Eventually, they were arrested and detained by the coast guard of Eritrea. Vice-Consul Alexander Estomo of the Philippine Consulate-General in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia made representations through the Philippine Embassy in Cairo, Egypt for the subsequent deportation of the nine Filipino fishermen.
“Patnubay”, an organization of servant-leaders based in Saudi Arabia assisted the fishermen in coordination with the Philippine Consulate-General in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia and the Philippine Embassy in Cairo, Egypt, which has jurisdiction over Eritrea. OFW leaders Redentor Bual and Joseph Espiritu of Patnubay were instrumental in following up the case from Jeddah where the fishermen were actually employed. ACTS OFW party-list Representative John Bertiz has also been closely monitoring the case.
The Blas F. Ople Policy Center assisted the families of the fishermen in providing much needed information and documents to the Department of Foreign Affairs. The Ople Center said it intends to refer the fishermen to the National Reintegration Center for OFWs for appropriate assistance.
Susan Ople, head of the policy center, urged the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) to look into the recruitment and deployment of Filipino fishermen to Saudi Arabia as well as their current work conditions to ensure that their rights are better protected.