Binay urges Taiwan to protect Filipino workers

Vice President Jejomar Binay. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — Vice President Jejomar Binay has called on Taiwan to assure the protection of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) there amid reports of attacks against Philippine nationals, an apparent backlash following the shooting of a Taiwanese fisherman earlier this month.

In a letter to Taiwan’s de facto embassy in Manila, Binay asked the Taiwanese government to take steps to protect Philippine nationals currently based there following at least two incidents where OFWs were assaulted as an act of revenge.

Binay also asked Taiwan, considered a part of China under the Philippines’ one China policy, to bring to justice those responsible for the attacks.

“They (OFWs) are there only to earn an honest living for their families and work harmoniously with the Taiwanese people. They should be spared from political conflicts,” Binay, the presidential adviser on OFW Concerns, said in his letter to Taiwan Economic and Cultural Office (TECO) representative Raymond Wang.

“Likewise, I trust that your government will make those who took part in the reported assaults accountable in a court of law,” he said.

He also expressed confidence that the two sides would eventually flesh out the conflict, which was sparked by the Philippine Coast Guard’s shooting of a Taiwanese fisherman within Philippine territorial waters on May 9. The Coast Guard maintains its officers opened fire as an act of self-defense.

“Given the strong ties between the Philippines and Taiwan, I am confident that our countries will be able to resolve our differences soon,” said Binay, who earlier appealed to Taiwan to lift its hiring freeze against Filipinos.

A group on social networking site Facebook called “Filipinos in Taiwan” posted details on reported instances of assault against Filipinos, including the May 18 attack on a dormitory housing Filipino workers.

The group reposted photos originally uploaded by user Archell Gavion Jaballa, which showed images of an injured Filipino and shattered glass on the floor.

Also posted on the page is a report that “groups behind the harassment are targetting people who look like Filipinos,” including Indonesians and Vietnamese.

The group also reposted a report on Taiwanese students who held a solidarity rally in support of Filipinos outside a church in Taipei, where Filipino migrants are known to converge regularly.

The students, who carried placards that read “I’m Taiwanese supporting Filipino workers,” said the Taiwanese should not vent anger on Philippine nationals as they are even contributing to Taiwan’s labor force.