Sarah Jane and the Roamers of Jeddah

Now that the election fever is over, we probably should go back to where we left off. I remember that five days before the May 14 election, Sarah Dematera arrived at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport on board Saudia flight SV-868 from Riyadh. Accompanying her in that flight back home was Ambassador Antonio Villamor himself.

It was surprising, though, that Sarah’s return was given very little media coverage. Even in the discussion boards hardly anything was said of her arrival in the Philippines. But one thing is sure; Sarah is now enjoying the fresh air of Antipolo, where she and her family reside.

Out here in the desert, I keep asking myself who could have funded Sarah’s release? We know that the amount of five hundred thousand Saudi riyals (SR 500,000) initially paid to the family of Sarah’s victim was raised by secretary Rafael Seguis through donations from concerned individuals and entities. But the source of the remaining one million five hundred thousand Saudi riyals (SR 1,500,000) which Ambassador Villamor personally delivered to the court in Dammam has not been revealed.

Perhaps the DFA should tell us where that amount, which is equivalent to around 19.5 million pesos, came from. Did it come from the DFA budget, from the Office of the President, from OWWA, or just from one Good Samaritan? I think the overseas Filipino community has the right to know so that when the same case happens again next time, we, as well as our embassy officials will know where to source the fund needed. We may no longer have to pass the hat.

Speaking of fund solicitation, may we also know from our embassy officials in Riyadh how much donation was collected from the community for and in behalf of Sarah, and how the donations were utilized?

As I write this piece, a hundred or so overseas Filipinos who have left their employers for various reasons roam the streets of Jeddah and Riyadh. They rely only on help from friends for their food and temporary shelter. They keep on moving from one safe house to another to avoid being noticed by people in the neighborhood. And every hour of the day, they risk being caught by the authorities.

When I was still the chair for political affairs of Alyansa in Jeddah, we have on several occasions brought to the attention of our consulate officials the need to construct (or rent) a multi purpose building which could serve as training center as well as home for the stranded male overseas Filipinos. But our request was never given attention. We thought then that perhaps budget is a constraint.

I find it, therefore, to be ironic for the government not being able to spend a couple of millions for hundreds of stranded overseas Filipinos, yet so quick to release 20 million pesos to save the life of one.

I want to suggest that if DFA cannot budget for this requirement, perhaps OWWA should. After all, a training center is very well within its reintegration program.