NGO urges gov’t to use social media sites to assist OFWs trapped in Syria

MANILA, Philippines—A migrants rights group urged the government agencies involved in the repatriation efforts in Syria to make full use of social media sites to help overseas Filipino workers still trapped in the conflict-torn country.

According to Susan Ople, head of the Pasay City-based Blas F. Ople Policy Center, social media sites and broadcast stations could be use to relay information to OFWs in Syria through their families here at home.

“Unlike Libya, our workers scattered across Syria do not know where the rescue teams are, and who are the community leaders or teams that they could reach out to. In quiet desperation, some of our workers have started planning their own escape routes which sadly puts them in extreme danger,” she said.

She cited the case of OFWs Maricel Monteclaro and Sherly Antig, who reportedly jumped from their building in order to escape from their strict employers in Lattakia. Both OFWs have been calling up the Philippine Embassy and asking for repatriation assistance because of oppressive work conditions and fear arising from sporadic sounds of gunfire near their building.

The Ople Center added that it has received several other OFW cases seeking repatriation from Syria.

“The families of these OFWs are extremely worried and would often call us up for updates. All we could tell them is that the cases of their loved ones are still under negotiation based on information coming from the Department of Foreign Affairs. For how much and for how long, we have absolutely no idea. Then we ask them to keep praying and not lose hope. I really wish we could do more than that,” Ople said.

Earlier, the Ople Center also called for a congressional inquiry into the state of rescue operations in Syria in light of the death of another Filipino in battle-stricken Homs.

The Department of Foreign Affairs on Wednesday confirmed that Meran Prieia Montezor, 23, a native of Camarines Sur, was killed in an ambush by “armed gangs” on Feb. 24 in Homs while riding in a vehicle with her employer’s family.

Last February 22, another OFW, who was waiting for her flight back to the Philippines, died of renal failure.

Ople said that the death of the OFWs underscores the need for the Aquino administration to give full priority and attention to the fast-developing humanitarian crisis in Syria.

“We respect and believe in the sincerity of our embassy and DFA personnel who are in the frontlines in Syria. It is also for their benefit that the Ople Center now seeks an impartial and independent assessment of the government’s ongoing rescue and repatriation efforts through a congressional inquiry,” Ople said.

A legislative inquiry will help ascertain whether all actions are fully coordinated, and that the best teams and all necessary resources are in place in Syria.