Former Special Assistant to the President (SAP) Bong Go has vowed to help repatriate the body of Filipina overseas contract worker (OFW) who died in Saudi Arabia in October last year.
In a radio interview, Ram Corpuz had sought Go’s help for the return to the country of the remains of her mother whose remains are being kept in a freezer in a hospital in the kingdom.
Corpuz said he has tried asking help from other government agencies as well.
“Yun lang po ang hiling namin, mabigyan lang siya ng magandang burol at makasama lang namin siya sa huling sandali,” he said.
“Sa lalong madaling panahon po, tutulungan natin. Kunin ko lang po ang mga detalye at sa abot ng aming makakaya (gagawin namin para) mapauwi natin kaagad dito,” Go said.
The former presidential aide, who is gunning for a Senate seat in the May midterm elections, said the case of Corpuz’ mother further supports his proposal for the creation of an OFW department, which is included in his legislative agenda.
“The case of Corpuz’ mother supports my proposal for the creation of an OFW department which is included in my legislative agenda.”
He cited Corpuz’ experience of trying to seek assistance from different government agencies following her mother’s death and even spending his own money in the process, and yet no results.
“Ngayon kung mayroon na tayong Department of OFW isang ahensya na lang po ang makipag-coordinate, para hindi na po sila ipapasa-pasa. Yan po ang gusto nating mangyari, mapabilis yung tulong sa kapwa,” Go said.
He said the proposed department, would take care of all OFW concerns, including the task of sending a family member abroad to assist distressed OFWs.
“Yan ang plano ko pong gawin pagdating ng panahon, isusulong ko itong Department of OFW para nakatutok lang po sa mga OFW natin,” Go added.
He recalled that months ago, he also attended to the concerns of nine OFWs, who were recruited to work as masseuses in Kuwait but forced to provide sexual services.
“Nagkasakit yung ilan, ipinagamot natin. Yung recruiter, two months nating hinanap—nagtago—hanggang finally nahuli. So, nakakulong na po ngayon yung recruiter,” Go said.
He said he knows the plight of the country’s OFWs from his experiences accompanying President Rodrigo Duterte in his various trips abroad.
“Alam nyo po, naiintindihan ko ang trabaho ng isang OFW. Pag pumupunta kami sa ibang bansa si Pangulong Duterte nag-iiyakan sila pag nakita nila si Pangulong Duterte,” Go said.
“I know the plight of the country’s OFWs from my experiences accompanying President Rodrigo Duterte in his various trips abroad.”
He said the OFWs love President Duterte because his campaign against illegal drugs, crime and corruption has made the streets safe for their children, giving them peace of mind.
“Kaya ganun na lang po kamahal ng OFW si Pangulong Duterte. Mahal namin ang OFW, tututukan ko talaga yan, pangako ko sa inyo,” Go said.
Aside from the creation of a department for OFWs, Go said his legislative agenda also includes programs for health, agriculture, anti-illegal drugs and criminality, housing, education, long-term sports development, anti-corruption, fire protection and prevention, localized peace talks, barangay welfare, and improved benefits for senior citizens.
