Enrico Salgado Luga, Redentor Padua, Ronelo Jaime, Ignacio Holasco Jr., Ben Sangalang, Silbin Pongos were Filipino car designers in Riyadh. They were hired by a Saudi employer to build trucks. They arrived in Saudi Arabia on August 30, 2006 with business visit visas that would expire in 6 months after their arrival in the Kingdom.
These Filipinos were hired as workers and not as businessmen. Their employer promised to change the visit visas to working visas.
On Dec. 11, 2007, the authorities raided their workplace and the workers were brought to the deportation jail. (Part of the immigration policies and procedures of Saudi Arabia prohibits a migrant holding a visit visa from working, and is subject to deportation. He is not protected by the provisions of the Saudi Labor Law.)
On January 2, 2008 the workers were released from the deportation jail after their sponsor paid the penalties of their expired visas. The sponsor promised the authorities that he would repatriate the workers as soon as possible. The employer failed to repatriate the workers and instead he asked them to work again.
It is against the Saudi Labor Law for a migrant to work if his visa is a visit visa. He is not protected by the provisions of the Saudi Labor Law if he is visit visa holder.
Here are the alleged violations done by their employer.
- They were hired as workers but with visit visas.
- The workers had no iqama and their visit visas were long expired.
- Delayed Salary of 5 months
- Verbal Abuse
- The workers were suffering occupational illness.
- Working of more than 60 hours per week and even on holidays.
The workers came to Saudi Arabia for work and to earn money; to feed their families in the Philippines. They did not know the consequences of working with visit visas.
The workers sought the assistance of the Philippine Embassy but their efforts failed.
The OFW SOS KSA (Patnubay) requested the authorities that these workers be repatriated concerned that the abuses of the workers from their employer would continue. We also requested that the workers be paid for the delayed salaries and all other financial entitlement as dictated by the provisions of the Saudi Labor Law.
The case officers of the Center for Migrant Advocacy (CMA) met the wives of the workers to prepare their letter to Prince Salman, the governor of Riyadh at that time. The governor’s office forwarded their case to the Ministry of Labor to pressure the employer to repatriate the workers; and for their salaries to be paid.
OFW SOS KSA (Patnubay) assisted Luga and team in the negotiation between the workers and their employer (and the visa sponsor who is not the employer).
Enrico Luga, Redentor Padua and Ronelo Jaime were repatriated after two months of fighting for their rights.
Ben Sanggalang and Silbin Ponggos opted to stay with the employer.
Ignacio Holasco went home because he was asked by the employer to hire for additional workers. He did not come back to Saudi Arabia.
Photos
OFWs Luga, Jaime and Padua with Patnubay Riyadh
Enrico Luga with CMA Case Officers Annaliza Navarro and Hazel Divinagracia Cotoner
Videos
Email Exchanges – Case Details and Resolutions
— On Fri, 3/14/08, Joseph Henry B. Espiritu wrote:
From: Joseph Henry B. Espiritu
Subject: Re: Resending: Very Discreet : Enrico Luga , Reden and Ronnie Diary Case Closed..
To: “ehnriko luga” , “ellene sana” , “anna liza navarro” , Rolando Blanco, “Lito Alejo” , Duane Santaana, Center For Migrand Advocacy (CMA)
Date: Friday, March 14, 2008, 8:33 AM
March 14, we meet with enrico , reden and ronnie in riyadh bikers club party. tolitz also followed..
Nakuha na nina ehnriko lahat ng napagkasundoan na amount, they are scheduled to leave at 9pm tonight. kaso chance passenger so they have to leave as early as 5pm para airport.
Reactions : The case is closed .. for me the three already have met their main objective which is to be repatriated na hindi dadaan sa deportation.
– naibalik ang passport nila at libre ang pangticket nila.
At first the three before sila umalis sa kanilang amo ay ang importante ay makauwi lang. secondary lang yong salary nila.. dahil we know visit visa holders are not protected by the saudi labor law. kaya minabuti nating magprepare ng sulat ng mga asawa nina rico, reden at ronnie addressed to the governor’s office.
Actually i was expecting the emara (Prince Salman’s office) to relay their case to the immigration (JAwasat) pero noong ni refer ang case nila sa ministry of labor. the MOL must address the case of the three dahil galing na ito sa governors office.
When we had our first meeting with the employer and the sponsor of the visas ay nalaman natin na apektado ng mahigpit si mr. saleh owner of the riyadh food dahil sya ang sponsor ng visit visa. which is bawal magwork dito at lalong bawal kung ipapagamit para sa ibang tao. at there is a chance na baka ma-banned pa yong company ni mr. saleh.
Si Mr. AAAA yong employer nina enrico din naman ay problema din sa kanyang projects dahil naudlot. noong nasa deportation yong tatlo. at yong pagkatigil sa production for financial reason. both might have a problem with the jawasat dahil malaki ang penalty ng visit visas na naexpire.
Basically, our fellow nationals, the two saudis ay may mga problema. and there must be a win-win solution for this case.
I had observed na as much as possible they have to repatriate our nationals as before saturday. dahil we suggsted to close this case in the ministry of labor.
Mr. AAAAA, told us na sya bahala sa ticket yong visa sa passport and the money na madadala nina enrico. pero hanggang 2000Sr lang pala ang ibibigay nya.
Mr. Saleh naman the most aggrieved sa lahat offered the three one month salary sa isat-isa.
This will be a very big problem to the two saudis dahil malaking violations naman ang mag-issue ng visit visa sa kanyang mga workers.
When rico and i told him to put a closure on this case in mol, ito yong sinabi sa akin.
“look abu bakr, i have a big problem, mr. AAAAA has a big problem and these filipinos have big problem. from my own money i will give each one one month salary. aside from the 2000sr from mr. AAAAA ”
I talked with enrico, if they are willing to fight and continue with the ministry of labor. rico told me to ask reden and ronnie.
I talked with ronnie and redend. and they want to accept it and go home.. because if sasabihin nila na lalaban well we must fight to the end. but if sa akin mismo mangagaling na lalaban ay hindi naman tama. Besides ronnie and reden ay nagsabi na malaking bagay na sa kanila yon. knowing na ang gusto lang nila ay makauwi.
I realized something, for almost three weeks na nasolve nina enrico ang kaso nila ng walang tulong ng ating embahada. and what they learned from their case. marami silang natutunan sa three weeks na sininumulan nila ang kanilang pakipaglaban ng karapatan. keysa tatlong buwan na paghihintay na tulungan ng embassy. na ang tanging hiling natin ay maipadala lang yong sulat ng family kay riyadh governor prince salman.
the same sulat na binigay nina enrico doon sa g at naaksyonan kaagad within a couple of hours.
here is the Monetary Compensation details:
enrico – 1,500 USD = SAR 5625. c/o Saleh
+ 2000. c/o AAAAA
ronnie – 700 USD = SAR 2625. c/o Saleh
+ 2000. c/o AAAAA
reden 700 USD = SAR 2625. c/o Saleh
2000. c/o AAAAA
sa part ko panalo na sina ehriko, reden at ronnie dahil sila ang nagbigay ng chance sa arabo. mr. saleh is a very good person.
Pero in my part meron pa akong kailangang mga sabihin.
Before we left the meeting, I told mr. AAAAA and mr. saleh. sana this problem will never happen again to my fellow filipinos. And that they must employ their workers with working visas. so that they will be protected from the saudi labor law.
they promised “Inshallah”, it seems they are honest with this statement. because i had said, mas malaki ang problema na kanilang haharapin sa mga penalties at iba pa dahil sa technicalities ng visit visas.
Mr. Saleh told me, that ang mol din kasi hindi magissue ng workers visa. pero i told him, na working for an employer na hindi nya sponsor is another problem. this caused a lot of problems to my fellow filipinos. like delayed salary, occupational injuries and others.. because visit visa holders are not covered with the saudi labor law.
Lastly, i rememer the other night na sinabi ni AAAAA na junk yong mga gawa nina enrico. so kailangan ko syang tanungin. “Tell me honestly, the car that enrico designed is good or not good”.. there was a long silence and he said “Very Good of course very good”…
I think the meeting ended well na walang sakitan ng loob.
PEro sana our government must learn a lesson from this if sinasabi ng taga embassy na “kasi pare visit visa holder yan”.. for me eh ano kung visit visa holder, filipino pa rin ito ay sagutin nila. dapat nga sisisihin din natin ang phiippine government dahil kung maingat sila hindi makalabas sina enrico sa bansa.. kapag makita nila na ang sponsor ay ibang lahi. at sina enrico ay wala namang company dito.
medyo gloomy ang saudi kanina. nafeel ko na ayaw pa nila uuwi nina enrico dahil sa bilis naman. i congratulate the three dahil they know their rights na ngayon. at napakalaking lessons ito.
thanks to mr. and misis joselito alejo, ka roman, aj.. si aj itong yong bata na mamimiss ng tatlo dahil ito ang palagi nilang nakausap..
it is too painful na malungkot yong tao dahil maiwan ka. pero i have to hold my tears. sa girlfriend ko lang ako iiyak.
another problem na solve, another problem will pop-up…
ito lang po muna. i will miss this place, i will miss this life
regards,
tas
please read on and check the attached pictures..
Enrico Luga with their Sponsor and Employer
—————————————
Date: Thu, 13 Mar 2008 15:04:26 -0700 (PDT)
From: ehnriko
Subject: final log – March 13, 2008
To: Joseph Espiritu
March 13, 2008
1100H – Ben called, Mr. AAAAA is offering SAR2,000. each – if we are amenable, he will buy the ticket already for Saudi Airlines. I told Ben to tell AAAAA that I will call back because I will think about it.
1110H – I called Mr. Saleh about this, and he asked for Ben to call him… Mr. Saleh also asked if I think this offer is ok or not… I answered him… that the offer is way way too low. He said he will also give so I dont have to worry. But as to what or how much, we havent discussed about it.
1115H – I sent Ben the number of Mr. Saleh and gave him instruction to call the same.
1120H – I called Tas to update and ask for advice.
1130H – I called Mr. Khaled, but he was driving and asked to call back after 5 minutes.
1400H – Tas called to ask for update
1500H – Ben called to report that Mr. AAAAA was angry at him because he was talking with Mr. Saleh; and AAAAA left. Ben talked with Mr. Saleh, Saleh asked Ben if the offer of AAAAA was low? Ben said yes.
1520H – Mr. Khaled called. I told him what transpired from last night and today. I told him that the negotiations hasnt arrived to a conclussion yet as of this time. Therefore, if they cannot come up with an acceptable solution, I will just wait for Saturday. Mr. Khaled asked me what is acceptable… I told him, that Islam orders us to pay our workers before their sweat touches the ground. I have waited 6 months for nothing… not only sweat, tears has touched the ground and we will only be insulted with this offer? Mr. Khaled agreed… I told Mr. Khaled… My whole salary is acceptable. He said he will push for it with Mr. AAAAA.
I am not still waiting for their calls since I dont think it is appropriate for me to be calling them anymore. Moreover, it is they who need something from us, since this labor case is detrimental to the operations of Mr. Saleh’s company (Riyadh Factory for Food). I also told Mr. Khaled that – the only reason I accepted this salary rate is because I was led to believe that it is only a 6 month project. I told him that my houselhold expense alone is already amounting to SAR 3,000. per month minimum!… what AAAAA is offering is not even close to this! I am not pushing for moral damages here… I am merely asking the money that belongs to me already which he is withholding. Not only for me, but for my whole team.
At any rate, the ball is already passed into their hands and it now their turn to do something about it.
1852H – Mr. Saleh Ibrahim Al Dhubay called.. invted us again to visit his office ASAP. Because he want to finish thsi problem very fast. I immediately inform Tas… however, his schedule is also hectic… But we will go anyway.
1900H – Tas and I arrived at the office of Mr. Saleh before the evening prayer of Isha. We continued negotiations after prayer. We settled with 1 month salary for each of the three person (me included). and AAAAA will give SAR2,000. for each plus plane ticket. They wanted to book us to the next flight available via Saudi Airlines which is about 2:30AM early morning next day. But, all flights are fully booked.
2000H – Mr. Muneer the assistant of AAAAA arrived to borrow the passports for ticketing purpose.
2100H – Mr. AAAAA arrived to deliver the passports plus tickets.. but this time he is with a more clearer face and with a more friendly approach. We made a closure agreement stating that We have no more further claims against Mr. AAAAA Al AAAAA after we recieved the agreed sum of money plus the plane ticket.
2130H – Mr. AAAAA and I signed the certification to seal our dispute. Tas served as a witness, he also had his Eqama zeroxed for documentation.
2200H – The Brother of Mr. Saleh will see to it that we get a flight tomorrow since he is connected with the airport or airline… and with regards to the passport exit Visas… Mr. AAAAA instructed us to give him a call at exactly 10:00PM when we are already in the airport… this is for the next day morning flight.
2330H – Tas and I found out that there was at least SAR 3,625.00 short with the total sum computed for the agreed amount. Tas and I called Mr. Saleh to inform him about it… and He said he will call back.
2335H – Mr. AAAAA called to ask where we are. But I cannot give him the location so we decided to meet him in the workshop tomorrow 0930H instead.
2400H – Arrived back to home base… informed the two about what happened… and tomorrow we will again get the rest of the money from the workshop.
Flight Details:
flight number: SV-874
Departure time: 0230H
Airlines: Saudi Arabian Airlines
Est. date: March 14, 2008
Monetary Compensation details:
enrico – 1,500 USD = SAR 5625. c/o Saleh
+ 2000. c/o AAAAA
ronnie – 700 USD = SAR 2625. c/o Saleh
+ 2000. c/o AAAAA
reden 700 USD = SAR 2625. c/o Saleh
2000. c/o AAAAA
Actual Total due: 16,875. SAR
Total Received: 13,250. SAR
Total Short: 3,625. SAR c/o AAAAA tomorrow in the workshop at 0930H
Alhamdulillah… this case is finally closed. All Thanks and Praise be to God the Almighty! Amen.
I can never thank you enough.
Thanks for all the help and support: OFW-SOS CMA and Joseph Espiritu, Roland B., Lito Alejo and Dra. Techie Alejo and family…
Thanks to the Saudi Emara, Ministry of Labor Mr. Khaled, Saudi Human Rights Commission Ms. Al Baydah
Thanks to the Riyadh Bikers Club for the support during the hard times in the workshop, ABS-CBN, Tsikot for the support during the critical times when we experiencing the worst;
and for the Philippine Embassy…and Ambassador Villmamor… thanks very much for nothing!!!. And they should be proud of it!
March 13, 2008
prepared by: enrico salgado luga
ehnriko luga wrote
March 12, 2008 Log
0830H – Enrico, reden and Ronnie went to the Ministry of Labor Office for Mr. Khaled
0930H – Mr. Saleh and Mr. AAAAA absent.
1000H – Mr. Khaled gave call to Mr. Saleh, intalked in Arabic, Mr. Khaled seems to be giving an angry lecture to Mr. Saleh and Mr. Saleh seems to be very apologetic in his tone of voice. Mr. Khaled normally keeps the speaker phone mode on whenever contacting them.
Mr. Khaled encouraged us to accept negotiations with Mr. Saleh Ibrahim Al Dhubay; We can either call or wait for his call. Mr. Khaled also explained that we are outside the circle of legal protection of Saudi since we have the wrong visa and we have no authority to stay nor work here in the first place.
1105H – The three of us went back to base.
1120H – Ask advice from Tas
1125H – Called Human Rights COmmission – Ms. Al Bayda about what to do. Ms. Al Baydah adviced to listen to what Mr. Saleh has to offer, and if this is acceptable we can conclude it in the Ministry of Labor. And if the offer is not good, then we will meet anyway in Labor and proceed with the case.
1130H – Asked for advice form Tas… Tas Advise: We’ll wait for a sign from God.
to get the sign this is what we had agreed.
– to miss-call mr. saleh
– and if he will return the call then we will proceed with the negotiation.
– if not then we will settle the case in the ministry of labor on saturday..
1200H – Team rested… a little bit exhausted and frustrated.
1900H – Enrico decided to give Miss-calls to Mr. Saleh Ibrahim Al Dhubay twice.
2030H – Mr. Saleh Ibrahim Al Dhubay called back, asking us to meet him in his office at the back of Lexus and Toyota Display Center in Exit 15 near the East Ring Road.
2050H – Team proceeded with Tas to accompany them; arrived at meeting place and was met by Mr. Saleh himself and he led us to his office. Quickly, I gave Mr. Saleh a brief overview of the big picture while we were walking, since this is the only opportunity I have to get through him… anticipating that Mr. AAAAA might arrive reducing my chance to establish raport with Mr. Saleh.. I briefly explained How and what happened. What the project is all about, I also showed him the pictures of the as we sat down in his office lounge… I showed him picstures of the prototype and the other existing units which are works in progress from my MP5 camera. He showed interest by asking some questions like what is prototyping, and what is my specialization. But this was cut short upon the arrival of Mr. AAAAA and Ben Sanggalang on or around 2110H.
2110H – Mr. AAAAA Al AAAAA arrived as a surprise. We greeted each other peace and the normal shaking of hands. But, there was a bit of a tension in the air, and also a sudden silence of the previous enthusiasm going on about the project; AAAAA sat besides Mr. Saleh and talked in Arabic with him. Mr. Saleh, thinking and pressuming that he has no problem with Ben, Reden and Ronnie… except me. And that he accused me of stealing information or designs from him. He also gave threatening statements that he can give me trouble because he percieved I am fighting him. He also later mentioned that He will give us all SAR 1,000. each only plus a plane ticket.
2120H – Everything AAAAA is saying is unacceptable… and irritating. So I asked permission to speak. Firstly, I told Mr. Saleh, I did not steal anything like what AAAAA is accusing me… and then I also added that WHy would I steal something I created?… If I need a design – all I need to do is just make one!… I have plenty of designs in my head and this is easy for me… Why would I give a damn about a design I already made for AAAAA? and besides, I am not interested in that design anyway. I added that eny industrial engineer can continue the works doen there since the prototype is already finished… all he had to do is reproduce or replicate it with normal CAD or CNC and scanning techniques. My job is done as far as I am concerned. I told Mr. Saleh the story from the beginning. I told him that our agreement was only to build one prototype for six months. I gave him my requirements; he made me believe that everything was already ready here in Riyadh… and that we can start working as early as day 1… But when we arrived last September 1, 2006; I was disappointed to learn that there is nothing whatsoever. I knew I fell into a trap… and there was nothing we can about it since I am not in my own turf. Eventually… we ended up working according to AAAAAs’ whim… pouring in the first 3 months just building the workshop and the office. And the remaining 3 months was put into fabircation of the 1st prototype that was rushed and only to be scrapped later on due to very poor quality. And AAAAA is blaming this to us?… when he has control over the project management and not a single part of my proposed course of activities were followed. Making it literally impossible for us to go home as scheduled. Clearly… we have been deceived. I also added a question to Mr. Saleh; Is it Islamic to neglect your family because of your work?… He answered a resounding NO! AAAAA was unfazed (what a liar!).
2130H – When I was getting some papers from my bag, AAAAA quickly judged It was his property he said those are blueprints… (what an idiot!) when it was merely the Proposed and Actual Gantt Charts and copies of our Labor case documents. Mr. Saleh told AAAAA, this is no Big deal. So I showed Mr. Saleh also the letter for the Emara and He immidiately read it.
2135H – Then Mr. AAAAA played a different character as if he is really a good person, he even said he has a big heart (Why do I find this hard to believe???) and he will give money for our families. He even said Reden and Ronnie will be happy tomorrow. I find this hard to believe… since earlier, he was firm with saying that he will only give a plane ticket and SAR1,000. on a take it or leave it condition, clearly indicating an inconsistency with the Hardball display he is showing. He also added that Ben will be in charge of this… since the Workshop management is informally turned over to him.
2140H – We ended the meeting without a clear agreement, but only to wait for Bens call tomorrow, Mr. Saleh embraced me as well as Mr. AAAAA, he even whispered that he is going to fulfill his promise to me. I told him, it’s not necessary… I also told him, that if he needs my service, I can still work for him even when I am in the Philippines. But he said this is not necessary. I know this is just his hypocritical display.
***(Need I mention that AAAAA bragged about his money and his big heart, so Tas tested this by saying he is Misqin or poor… so AAAAA threw a 500 Riyal bill towards Tas. Tas was only kidding but AAAAA – displaying an arrogant defense mechanism will lose face if he doesnt do this gesture. Tas tried to give it back to AAAAA, but AAAAA refused to accept it So we became 500 Riyal richer this night. I hope it was not an advance to our demands… – I really think this is insignificant but I write it here anyway for our lighter side reference.) ***
2200H – The Group went back to base.
2300H – Tas and the group brainstormed a bit… and also concluded the night.
We will do nothing for the meantime but wait Bens call in the morning tomorrow.
end of log for 03.12.08
prepared by: enrico salgado luga
“Joseph Henry B. Espiritu” wrote:
Ngayon pa lang ric, kincongratulate na po namin kayo at lalo na ikaw..
Hanga kami sa mga taong handang ipaglaban ang sariling karapatan sa pamagitan ng aksyon at hindi hanggang salita lang or pagsigaw man.
Maraming salamat sa inyo Enrico, Reden at Ronnie.. Pinahanga nyo kami!
Maraming salamat kay Ginoong Lito Alejo at kay Doktora na kanyang may bahay.. Tol as i had said a lot of times , ikaw at si teresita santos ay tinuring kugn mga tunay na bayani. Naapi, lumalaban, nagwagi at tumutulong. isingit pa natin dyan na naiwanan at napbayaan ng embahada pero nagwagi.
Sa CMA na pinag-isa ang inyong mga asawa para makagawa ng sulat. (yong sulat na binalewala ng ating embahada na wala ding ginawa)
Kay Ginoong Allan Sutarez at sa kaibigang translator na kanyang company. (juan i need to know his name)
sa Bulwagan Islamic Center sa lahat lahat na tumulong,
of course to my live and let die partner na si MR .Roland Blanco. tol.. thanks
hindi ko man mahihintay ang inyong victory party, dahil sa aking madaliang pagalis next week.
Tolitz.. yong victory party mo naman, ano kaya this weekend na lang ?
“Ganyan ang CMA, OFW-SOS at Patnubay.com kung gagalawa uunahin ang pagresolva ng kaso. at kung walang gagawin ang embahada ay aaksyon. hindi katulad ng iba na sigaw lang ng sigaw wala din namang magagawa!
Regards,
tas
———————————————————
Date: Tue, 11 Mar 2008 01:42:07 -0700 (PDT)
From: ehnriko
Subject: Re: Very Discreet : Enrico Luga , Reden and Ronnie Diary updates..
To: “Joseph Henry B. Espiritu”
March 11, 2008
On or about 1000H, Mr. Khaled; a labor officer from the Saudi Ministry of Labor gave me a call.
He called to inform me that Mr. AAAAA Al AAAAA is not the registered sponsor according to our visa numbers. He said that these visa numbers are registered to Riyadh Food Factory… a certain Mr. Saleh Ibrahim Al Dubay.
He said he was able to talk with Mr. Saleh Al Dubay and told him about the case. And he gave my number to the same.
Mr. Khaled further instructed me to take note of Mr. Dubay’s contact number… and asked me to wait for Mr. Dubay’s call… If I dont receive a call within the next 4 hours… that means before the afternoon prayer… then I can give Mr. Dubay a call to introduce myself and tell him about the problem… That we have a problem with Mr. AAAAA Al AAAAA and that we are only after our unpaid salaries and our plane ticket to go home.
Mr. Khaled also told me that He hope this will will be finished within this day until tomorrow. We are scheduled to go to the Ministyr of Labor tomorrow around 0830H or earlier.
He also told me that if this is finished today or tomorrow… we will be able to leave next week.
I told him Inshallah… (God permits).
I have to admit that when he told me that there is no Mr. AAAAA Al AAAAA registered as our sponsor in our visa according to their records… I was already thinking the worse case scenario. That AAAAA may have preplanned this all along that in case such an incident would occur… he can go scat free because the system will allow him to do so.
I hope not.
I don’t know… but I still feel he has some more hidden defenses since this is what he is trying to project to the 2 other men we left in the workshop… Ben and Silbin. Because he told Ben that…”If Jing wants fight… then I will fight them back”… I dont know how he is going to do this… but realizing that our Visas were actually from Riyadh Food Factory… gives him technically a way out of this mess. Because… technically… he is really not in the records.
Another fear I have is that Riyadh Food Factory might deny this and tell the Saudi Government – that they are not responsible for us since they have no knowledge of this…. they can also say that they dont know us.
These are my fears considering that i am a Filipino – Undocumented, and unprotected by any government. I also fear, that – this is all my fault… Kahit ako ang niloko ng %$%^#^&^@# taong ito (who goes by the name of AAAAA al AAAAA or Abu XXXX).
I now realize that it’s not yet time to relax… since – It’s not over till it’s over.
Thank you so much Joseph for your unwaivering and vigilant support. This has already empowered me during the whole course of this plight… I hope this will soon be over.
Habang tumatagal… lumalaki ang galit ko kay AAAAA dahil sa napabayaang mga pamilya ko at pamilya ng mga tao ko sa PInas.
I made a vow to myself na hindi ko sila iiwanan at hindi ko sila pauuwiin ng luhaan. At hindi ko ito pinangako sa kanila or sa akin sarili… My commitment is to their families.
I have told these guys that – It is I who took them out from their families in the Philippines to join me… and again, it is I who will bring them back to their families with victory, dignity and pride in their hands… supposedly 1 year ago. Thank you Joseph and CMA and everyone… you have made this possible.
I hope justice will be done to us.
enrico “jing” salgado luga
“Joseph Henry B. Espiritu” wrote:
March 8,
Nasa labor office sina enrico.. tinawagan ang amo para ibigay ang sahod. sabi daw ng amo nabigyan na daw nya ang mga sahod ng tatlo.
so the ministry of labor ask the employer to come on the following day para ipakita yong mga payslips at mga pinirmahan nina enrico.
lito and i also advised enrico to bring a Holy Quran para kung mag-insist ang amo sa kanyang kasinungalingan ay kailangan nitong magpledge sa Holy Quran..
MArch 6,
I visited the guys. kantahan with tolits, roman , rico, reden and ronnie. ako lowest score. waaaah
I conducted simple martial arts lecture para magexercie naman yong tatlo..
March 5,
Nasa mga kamay na nina enrico ang passport with exit visa. Yehey.. ticket at yong sahod na lang ang kulang..
– Enrico, Reden and Ronnie will now try to fight for their unpaid 5 month salary.
“Joseph Henry B. Espiritu” wrote:
March 4 –
– hindi sumipot ang amo nina enrico, kaya pinili ng ministry of labor officer at nina enrico na bibisitahin na lang daw ang workshop nina enrico para doon na kakausapin ang amo.
– napag-alaman na naiturn-over ng amo the night before yong mga passports ni enrico doon kay pepito.
– national society for human rights saudi arabia called enrico. dito nagfax ng complaint sina enrico the night before sila pumunta ng emara.
March 3, Night
– naitreat daw ng employer nina enrico.. yong officer ng ministry of labor ng kain sa labas (this was then relayed by the officer to enrico and team the following day)
“Joseph Henry B. Espiritu” wrote:
team, very confidential —
March 2,
Enrico reden and ronnie, went to the ministry of labor. enrico showed the ministry of labor officer the passports and other documetns. sabi ni enrico he was advised by the officer na wag muna itong ipakita during the negotiation. for this is the clear violation of the saudi laws.. the officer ay mas convinced lalo ngayon tungkol sa abuso na ginagawa ng kanilang employer. kahit yong pananakit na physical ay sinabi na rin ni ehrniko dumating yong alalay ng employer at yong tiyuhin na medyo lasing daw at hindi makaintindi sa discussion. at nagsabi na pupunta daw sila ng hamam pero dumiritso naman pauwi at hindi na bumalik.
babalik daw bukas sina enrico at makipagharap na sa kanila ang kanilang amo.
ngayon pa lang, binabati ko na sina enrico, reden at ronnie .. ng Congratulations!
March 1,
Enrico, reden and ronnie went to the ministry of labor again. tinawagan ng officer ang amo nina enrico. so the officer asked enrico bakit sila tumakas.. naexplain naman ni enrico.
we advised na they have to tell na they have to leave the place dahil dumiritso sila sa emara (governors office)] at hindi na sila bumalik dahil araw-araw na nilang nilalakad ito.bumalik, sina enrico sa ministry of labor that afternoon para masabi ito pero wala na ang officer.
night : we sent enrico the copies of their passports, visas na pinadala nya sa atin noon. dahil wala na silang kopya. and also we sent the email exchanges na magagamit nila sa kanilang pakipaglaban ng karapatan.
enrico and the team then printed the said documents, para maipaglaban ang kanilang karapatand with documents na maipakita. thanks to the alejo family, tolitz and doctora sa tulong talaga. .
February 29,
[ Roland, edward and i went to peking dahil bday ng anak ni ka jimmy.. then we proceed to an esteraha in exit five dahil coronation ng al taj kids (king and queen), there we met mohammad amaya din our sos volunteer in shumeisy morgue]
Sumunod ay pumunta kami sa kingdom hospital ni roland and ni edward dahil may coverage si ka roland doon.
Pagpasok namin nagkita din kami nina enrico, reden at ronnie dahil sumama sila kay tolitz. yong hospital kasi kung saan nagwork si dra ay may team din sa volleyball tournament doon.
guess who kung sino pa.. si AMBA VILLAMOR.. he he he. of course dahil naumpisahan nina enrico ang kanilang lakad, so there is no need to talk to amba. dahil tayo na ang nagumpisa, tayo na rin ang tatapus.
di rin tayo nakita ni amba. i thought nakita niya si roland. dedmahan lang. pero hindi alam ni amba na itong case nina rico na nilapit natin sa kanila na hindi nila ginawa ay napakalaking issue kung mailabas.
– picture taking. roland please send the pics..
nanalo ang team nina doktora.. congrats.
February 28 –
Roland and i went to the house kung saan nakastay sina enrico reden and ronnie. Lunch, thanks to tolitz and dra..
Roland did an interview for enrico and the guys.
– roland left at around 2:30pm. while i stayed and lectured instant self defense training, for the guys..
– tolitz arrived kwentohan ulit ng mga frustrations sa ating embassy. at yong mga pinagdaanan ni tolitz noong nakakulong pa sya.
i left 6pm…
“Joseph Henry B. Espiritu” wrote:
very discreet..
26 February, Morning Room 18, Ministry of Labor
– nakausap nina enrico ang tao doon sa ministry of labor. it was found out na wala sa listahan ng mga registered businessmen yong amo nila nor yong company nila ay wala rin sa listahan.
– the officer in the ministry of labor ask the location of their employer.. at binigay naman nina enrico ang map at yong direction kung papano makapunta doon.
– the officer ask kung ano ang gusto nina enrico. sabi nila ay immediate repatriation.. tinanong naman sila ng officer kung papano yong sahod nila na 5 months. sagot nina enrico ay mas maganda kung meron pero kung mahirapan lang sila makauwi. then okay lang kung wala na yong sahod basta makauwi lang.
– the officer told them na pupuntahan yong premises ng company sa hapon ng araw na yon. or ngayon wednesday.
– sumama ako sa kanilang magtanggahlian at doon na ako nagstay buong hapon.
— hanggang sa oras na ito ay wala ng tumawag na mga taga embassy sa kanila. siguro nag-enjoy sila at parang nabunutan ng tinik na hindi na sila kinulit ni enrico. at sasakit lang ang ulo nila kung papano ang gagawin. di nila alam tapos na sina enrico.
ito lang po muna.
tas
“Joseph Henry B. Espiritu” wrote:
Ka duane , ka dante musta po..
very discreet po.. nasa upperhand na ito and please tell the tsikot guys. na not to make noise or rallies.. rallies are desperate moves sa time na ito..
hayaan na lang nila na sina enrico na yong magsasalita pagkatapos nito..
as much as possible, ask tsikoters not to mention their names sa internet.. nor our names sa ksa.. may anak na it specialists yong amo nila at isang google search lang. huli na tayo.
please tell them na lang na they are fine. nandyan po sa baba yong latest update sa kanila.. pero keep it discreet between you and ka dante..
and please pakisabi sa tsikot club na tanggalin yong name ko doon sa lahat ng postings dahil kung kakalat yan delikado ako dito at sina enrico.
tama na yong pag-iingay. wala naman mangyayari. i-prove muna natin na dahil kena enrico at sa paglalakad nila sa kanilang kaso ay nasolve ito. at nangyari ito dahil ayaw lalakad ng embassy. ito ay sasabihin lang kapag nasa philippines na sina enrico.
ka dante, please remind the tsikoters na to keep our names confidential..
and this email ay sa inyong dalawa ni ka duane lang at sa mga team ng sos.
regards,
tas
——————————
Date: Sat, 23 Feb 2008 03:47:38 -0800 (PST)
From: “Joseph Henry B. Espiritu”
Subject: : discreet : More Enrico Luga updates..
To: “Joseph Henry B. Espiritu” ,Center For Migrand Advocacy (CMA), ellene sana ,anna liza navarro , rolando@maaden.com.sa, roland.blanco26@gmail.com
Updates : 25/02/2008 Morning nasa Emara at labor sila mamaya.
Updates : 24/02/2008 Morning
Nasa Labor office na po sila, at pinabalik the following day. yong purpose ng labor is para mablocklist itong amo.
yong mga unpaid salaries.
at yong next move is to request for repatriation na sa kanila.
Updates : 24/02/2008 Afternoon
Nakadalawang green stub na sina enrico galing sa emara. we advised them to make a photocopy of that stub at yong arabic letter nila. para kung sitahin sila ng police. di sila huhulihin dahil may existing complaint.
nasa isang safe na lugar si enrico, si reden at ronnie. isang kababayan na natulongan ng sos din.
umalis ako doon mga 11pm na.
Updates : 23/02/2008 Morning
Nasa emara na sina enrico luga at mga kasamahan sa ngayon. may green stab na rin.
yong 50sr na binigay natin kagabi ay kinukulang. kaya tamang tama na pupunta si lito alejo doon sa emara kaya umutang tayo kay lito para ibigay sa kanila ni enrico.
babalik sila sa emara kinabukasan. para yong papers ay magawa.
Updates : 21/02/2008
We advised Enrico to text amba, kung alam ba ng jawasat ang case nina enrico at balak na susugod na sa premises. Kasi kung totoo yon, the jawasat people should have called them dahil sop yon.
Updates : february 18 onwards.
After we advised enrico to text amba na papuntahin na yong mga asawa nila sa dfa. (we did this dahil may balak naman daw ang embassy na pupuntahan ang amo mismo nina enrico, at kinabahan tayo na baka macaught offguard itong ating mga kabbayan).
nagkausap daw si enrico at si rey banda at mabait na daw sa kanya. tinanong ni enrico na ang gusto nilang makarating lang naman ang sulat ng mga asawa nila sa emara. Sabi ni Rey banda ay gumawa daw sila ng sariling sulat. In fact di daw alam ni rey banda na may sulat ang mga asawa nina enrico.
heto ang catch- sinabi ni amba kay enrico na pinadala daw yong sulat nila sa governor’s office at gumawa pa sya ng sariling sulat para magiging strong ang kanilang claim.
Sino ang nagsasabi ng totoo ?
si rey or si amba ?
Totoo ba na walang kopya si rey banda sa sulat ng mga asawa ng mga car designers? Papano nangyari yon, samantalang sinabi ni vice consul abiog sa akin na binigay na kay vc reyes. at nakausap ko rin si vc reyes at natanggap nya rin yong sulat. pero ang dami nyang rason na parang ayaw gagawa. “kasi pre, pumunta ang mga yan na visit visa? ”
nakausap ko si amba kahapon. at sinabi sa akin na may text daw ako na nathreathen ako nina enrico na papatayin. sabi ko hindi. sabi ni amba, may text daw ako sa kanya na ganun. i told him na “yong text na yon ay from enrico na pinapirma sya ng kasulatan na pwede syang papatayin ng amo kung mabulilyaso ang project ng huli.”
nagsumbong din si amba na enrico threatened na the wives daw nila ay magreklamo sa dfa dahil hindi naman sila inasikaso. sabi naman ni amba na he and his staffs are doing everything.
k, i advised enrico to text to them like that para naman nila gagawan ng action ang matagal na nating hiling.
when amba told enrico na na nasa emara na daw yong sulat at dinagdagan nya to have more strength sa sulat.
we advised enrico to ask amba thru text, anong file number, may green stab na ba?
di na daw sumagot si amba, pero sabi sa jawasat na daw sila ulit.
it is so obvious, na wala talagang ginawa ang mga staff ni amba.
when amba called me yesterday..we discussed at sinabi nya ngayon sa atin na the embassy did their best na makakuha ng exit visa noong nasa deportation sila. i can attest to that dahil rabi and tom ang gumagawa.
Pero sabi ni amba, na may exit visa na at travel documents na sila pero pinalabas ng jawasat dahil sabi nila magfile pa sila ng kaso sa labor.
I told amba na hindi ganun, dahil palagi ko itong nakakausap noong nasa deportation pa sina enrico and i told them na wala silang karaptan according to the saudi labor law. at problema pa tuloy sila. i also told amba na the reason na pinalabas sila dahil alibi ng amo na ipapagamot sila sa kanilang mga sakit.
amba even clarified na hindi daw dahil yong isa na nakauwi ay galing din sa deportation at hindi na lumabas. i told him na lumabas din yong umuwi. pinauwi lang ng amo para maghire ulit ng tao.
– alam naman natin na wala pang ginawa ang embassy at parang tinik sa kanilang dibdib
“Joseph Henry B. Espiritu” wrote:
Discreet : February 18, nang gabi nagusap kami ni tom tungkol sa balak nina rey banda na puntahan yong employer nina enrico. sabi ni tom gusto nya sanang ibrief sina reybanda at a certain jimmy. kaso nga sabi daw nina jimmy (not umag) “ah alam na namin yan”. sabi ni tom ang reason na ibrief nila ang mga ito dahil sya naman ang humawak sa kaso na ito during the holidays kung saan nasa deportation pa itong sina enrico.
i asked tom, alam ba nina enrico na pupunta sina rey at jimmy sa location. sabi ni tom parang hindi. i told tom na if ganun, that would be a sign of weakness dahil macaught offguard itong sina enrico. at malamang uuwi itong sina rey banda, sa embassy na ang sisisihin pa ay sina enrico. at magiging delikado ang kalagayan nina enrico. sabi naman ni tom. na kaya nga padre sianbi ko sa yo dahil nag-alala ako. pero wag lang ko daw sabihin na sya ang nagsabi.
– besides takot ako dahil nakapadala na tayo ng sulat sa emara. kapag may conflict sa statements natin at yong sa embassy kung totoong nasubmit nila sa emara ay baka mawala payong credibility ng claims.
i called enrico, and told him sa plan ng embassy. i advised him to send a message to amba, rey banda and rousel reyes with these contents..
– sir ilang buwan na kami lumapit sa inyo. at isang buwan na nasa inyo yong sulat ng mga asawa namin. naipapadala nyo na ba yon sa governor’s office. wala man lang nagupdate sa amin. sabi ni vice consul reyes tawagan nya ako after 2 weeks. naghintay ako ng another 2 weeks wala namang tawag galing sa kanila. kung ako naman ang tatawag ay hindi nyo ako sasagutin.
– sir papupunta na po sa dfa ang mga asawa namin at alamin kung bakit hindi man lang naibigay ang request ng mga asawa namin. sinabi ni rey banda na binago daw nila ang sulat. bakit kailangang baguhin? pagpasensyahan nyo na po pero hindi na namin matitiis ang pang-aapi sa amin at wala pa rin kayong ginagawa. bawat tao na tatawag galing sa inyo. ay pagagalitan lang kami dahil sa pagkakamali namin na pumunta na visit visa ang dala. pagkatapos wala man lang action na gagawin. hanggang pagagalitan lang kami. kung sakit man sa kalooban nyo na tulongan kami wag nyo na lang kaming paasahin.
– at kung may plano kayong gagawin ay sabihin nyo naman sa amin. dahil delikado po ang amo namin. at sana plantsado ang lahat ng galaw. kaya nga we advised our wives to send a letter to the governor’s office dahil iyon ang alam namin na pinkasafe.
February 19, tumawag si amba kay enrico at galit daw. he he he. pinadala nya daw ang sulat at nagpapadala pa sya ng isang sulat pa..para magiging strong ang sulat ng mga asawa nila.
so i advised enrico to text amba.. with this content.. sir, pwede po ba malaman namin kung ano ang file number namin sa governor’s office.
hndi na sumagot si amba villamor
February 20, tumawag si rey banda at ang bait na daw.. at sinabi na sa jawasat na daw sila at nagcomplaints. kakausapin nya daw ang amo nina enrico. at sisindakin daw nya. ngek. alam ko kaya kung papano sya sigaw-sigawan ng mga pulis sa police station kaya sya takot maglakad ng mga kaso ng mga nakakulong.
hay naku naman..
tas
From: Joseph Espiritu
To: CMA
Sent: Monday, February 11, 2008 1:51 PM
Subject: Fw: Case of Filipino Car Designers
Okay na yon anski, follow-up ko na lang if nakarating sa emara, then we will ask enrico and team na ilegwork na nila since hindi naman lumakad ang embassy, ilang buwan na.
—
From: CMA
To: Joseph Espiritu
Sent: Monday, February 11, 2008 1:51 PM
Subject: Fw: Case of Filipino Car Designers
kuya, tama ba ginawa ko? me lumabas kc command kung send as is or send as unicode. pls check. thanks. anna
From: CMA
To: Governors Office Riyadh, Saudi Ministry of Labor
Sent: Monday, February 11, 2008 6:48 PM
Subject: Case of Filipino Car Designers
Please find attached files regarding the request for assistance of Filipino car designers.
From: Joseph Henry B. Espiritu
To: Allan Sutarez
Sent: Wednesday, February 6, 2008 1:46 PM
Subject: Fwd: Request for Assistance Letter from the wives of car Designers
Ka Allan, pwede magpatranslate to Arabic itong letter ng mga asawa ng card designers. As usual tayo na lang ulit ang maglakad nito. Seems dinedma ng embahada ang case na ito.
thanks,
tas
—
From: Joseph Henry B. Espiritu
To: Vice Consul Gerry Abiog
Sent: Thursday, January 24, 2008 8:24 PM
Subject: Resending : Request for Assistance Letter from the wives of car Designers
To : Vice Consul Gerry Abiog
Assistance to Nationals Section
CC : Consular Attache Tomas Lauson
Dear Vice Consul Gerry,
Sir, naka-attached po dito yong complaint letter ng mga asawa nina Enrico Luga at mga kasamahan.
Hindi po pwede na sina Enrico ang magdadala doon sa Emara dahil sa higpit ng kanilang amo.
I may suggest, for the Philippine Embassy to have this letter translated to Arabic at kung pwede ay dadalhin na kaagad doon sa Emara.
Maraming Salamat po,
Gumagalang,
Joseph
CMA Case Officers with the Wives of Car Designing Team
CMA’s Anna Navarro and Mrs. Elaine Luga
From: anna liza navarro
Date: Mon, 21 Jan 2008 02:47:11 -0800 (PST)
Subject: pls check
To: joseph espiritu, cma
kuya, here is the edited letter. take a final look. will call ms elaine luga tomorrow baka kasi ako na lang pupunta ng cavite anytime this week kasi lahat naman sila taga cavite.
ito muna. thanks po.
anna
From: Joseph Henry B. Espiritu
To: anna liza navarro ; ellene sana
Sent: Sunday, January 20, 2008 11:32 PM
Subject: Fwd: Proofread, Edited Draft
Anski, heto na po yong letter re enrico luga. please rewrite and make it appear na ang family nila yong nagrequest sa prince..
paki dagdag na rin ang cc doon sa embassy ng riyadh
thanks
kuya tas.
ehnriko Luga wrote:
To : HRH Prince Salman Bin Abdulaziz
Governor of Riyadh Region
Cc: Hon. Minister Gazi Algosaibi
Ministry of Labor
Thru: HE Ambassador Antonio Villamor
Philippine Embassy, Riyadh
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Your Royal Highness Prince Salman Bin Abdulaziz
We are the wives of Filipino migrant workers Enrico Salgado Luga, Redentor Padua, Ronelo Jaime, Ignacio Holasca Jr., Ben Sangalang and Silbin Pongos. We appeal for help from your Royal Highness to have our husbands, who have been in distress for many months now in Saudi Arabia, repatriated as soon as possible, their salaries and benefits and other remunerations in accordance with Saudi Labor law be paid unto them.
Our husbands are car designers. They are hired by AAAA XXXX to build trucks. They arrived in Riyadh last August 30, 2006 with business visit visas that would expire 6 months after that date. They went to Saudi as workers and not as businessmen. They thought that the employer can change their visit visas to working visas in due time.
On Dec. 11, 2007, the authorities raided their workplace and our husbands were brought to the deportation. We understand that this is part of the immigration policies and procedures since our husbands are working without work permit, with expired visit visas and that they should be deported otherwise they will remain undocumented and subject for abuses.
But on January 2, 2008 the sponsor took them from the deportation center after paying the penalty of the expired business visit visa. They went back to work in the company on January 5, 2008.
Your Royal Highness, it is against the Saudi Labor Law for a migrant to work if his visa is a visit visa. We also realized that because they are visit visa holders, they are not protected from any labor rights violation, per provision in the Saudi Labor Law.
The following are the alleged violations done by their employer.
1. They are hired as workers but with visit visas.
2. The workers have no iqama and their visit visas are long expired.
3. Delayed Salary of 5 months
4. Verbal Abuse
5. The workers are currently suffering occupational illness.
6. Working of more than 60 hours per week and even on holidays.
Your Royal Highness, our husbands went to Saudi to work to keep us, our families, together. They do not know the result of working with visit visa. The employer who hired them has the power to abuse them because he is the sponsor and he knows the laws better than our husbands do.
Your Royal Highness, we request that our husbands be repatriated safely otherwise they will continue to be unprotected from abuses. We also ask from your kind heart that they be given their delayed salaries and other benefits in accordance with Saudi Labor Law. We know that our husbands made mistakes in accepting a work with a visit visa in teir passports. But their ignorance is too small compared to the sufferings and the abuses that they received, to date, from their employer.
Our husbands may be contacted in the following numbers:
Enrico S. Luga – +96656378xxxxx
Redentor Padua – +966560xxxxx
Ronelo Jaime – +966564xxxxx
Bienvenido Sangalang – +9665xxx
Sylvester Pongos – +9665635xxx
The employer’s contact number is as follows:
XXXX Al AAAAA – +966505xxxx
Your Royal Highness, we strongly believe that the government of the Kingdom Saudi Arabia will not allow any harm or unfair treatment to anyone living in the Kingdom regardless of race, nationality or creed.
Thank you for your attention.
Sincerely yours,
Elaine Luga
Ma. Carolina Jaime
Celia Padua
—
From: ellene sana
To: Joseph Henry B. Espiritu ; PEACE – PINOY ; Rolando Blanco ; Rachel Salinel ; anna liza navarro ; cma ; Ronnie abeto
Cc: Dante E. Agnote
Sent: Thursday, January 10, 2008 4:42 AM
Subject: Re: Very discreet : Enrico Luga Updates – very discreet for this team only…
hi joseph, team:
thanks for keeping us in the loop.
heto ang tingin namin sa kaso:
1. immediate intervention should come from our embassy and polo –since you guys are meeting with amba tomorrow — please do the brainstorming with him. i believe official government intervention will still be the best rather than the families or us (NGOs) bringing the matter directly to ksa authorities.
2. please give us contact details of their families in cavite/ imus or whereever. we’ll contact them and brief them on the situation/ case;
3. after we have contacted the families, we’ll have meetings with poea and dfa separately.
4. about mang jun and plan to advertise for additional workers — we’ll alert poea immediately about this… today…
5. please relay to enrico and team our solidarity with them.
thank you to all for your perseverance.
ingat,
ate ellene
“Joseph Henry B. Espiritu” wrote:
Team,
Ka ronnie, ka romy and ka roland,
bros, kailangan na ito ng brainstorming. I initially drafted a letter addressed to the governor’s office. Pero sa exchanges of communication namin i enrico. i realized that the problem is not this easy. We really have to draft a letter na maganda ang pagkakasulat. please assist..
alam na ng embassy ito, alam na rin siguro ng polo. but i prefer the fastest solution which to ask help from the authorities dito. we just want a very convincing letter. ka romy, ka roland and ka ronnie.. please take the driver seat. you may create your own email thread for this purpose.. thanks..
Ate ellene and anna,
kailangan talaga na ang letter ay mangagaling dyan sa pinas. it could be from cma , or the families of these ofws.. we will just wait for ka roland and ka ronnie and ka romy…
to dante and the rest of the team- just observe na lang muna.
ito po yong latest na communication namin ni enrico..
I do believe they really need help so badly.. Pasensya na po medyo sumakit ang ulo ko dito dahil nagpatong-patong ang problema dahil napatagal kasi ang realization. naalala ko tuloy yong movie na human cargo..
please read on..
Sender name : ehnriko
Sent – 01/10/2008 04:26:49 AM
1. I received a call last March 2006 in Imus Cavite… the call came from Mr. AAAAA Al xxxxxxxxx… he asked me if I can design for him a truck and also build a prototype. I asked him how he got my number… he said from internet… cardesignnews.com, So it became a phone interview. He planned to go to Manila to interview me personally but we had a good conversation that made that call the interview itself.
After that… I would reply to his calls or text by email… He asked me to make a drawing which I did with a pen and paper… and I sent by email. He replied and thought my drawing or idea was excellent… and he even attached an image of his scale model truck which he had an Australian company designed and made for him. They didn’t went to the extent of making a full scale prototype but only a 1:5 scale model. It looked ugly compare to my design anyway.
After that, he asked me my requirements…. so I emailed to him a list of requirements… and also the number of team I require. I already agreed with the offered salary at this point. But only because I am led to believe this is really going to be strictly a SIX-month project.
I will send you my emails to and fro him before we went to Riyadh… but I will be needing you yahoo account or email address.
Anyway… when I was able to prepare the team. He asked me to prepare a letter of intent witha business stationary of my mothers old company… so I made one… I believe he needed it for getting Visas. He sent me visas under the company name of RIYADH FOOD … I asked him if this is his and does it have a website… he said yes. I checked the website… it seemed authentic… so I thought OK… he must be an american educated Arab since RIyadh Food is ISO Certified.
At any rate, I am also aware that what he plans to build is a very new company… and it will be called… xxxxxxxxx CAR COMPANY or AAAAA AL xxxxxxxxx CAR MANUFACTURE… whatever..
But since this is still new… he doesn’t have anything existing about this new company and he intends us to build it from ground up.
He said he is the only one who is able to obtain a license to start building or manufacturig cars… he got this because he was able to get his requirements from this Australian Design Studio.
By September… He asked me to follow up the visas from the Saudi Embassy in Philippines… I went there myself.. and I found out myself that I needed an agency to process it. But there are many freelance people in the Equitable Bank nearby where you pay the fees for the embassy. So I got hold of one guy there named Salik Bidol. AAAAA paid him directly per visa transaction and I gave him our passports.
soon after… we are able to get our passports with Visa stamps on them… and also our tickets… If I am not mistaken it was September 1 when we arrived here in Riyadh.
Upon arrival… Mr. AAAAA Al xxxxxxxxx received us at the airport. I rode with him with Ben and the others took a taxi. I thought we will be brought to a good hotel or straight to the company workshop or staff houses already. But he brought us to Kentucky Frid chicken first and then brought us to an appartment near Batha and Al Karj… It was only then when I realized that He never really prepared any of my requirements, materials, building, platform vehicle for the prototype and equipments. He actually wanted to use us to build the workshop from scratch. I wanted to back out already at this point in time but I can’t since I have fallen already into the trap.
And since he was always taking me early up and bringing me to expensive restaurants or hotels just to spend time there and talk a little brainstorming about the design I made… and what he wants to be incorporated to the over-all concept. We had no choice but to follow and do what he wanted us to do.
The team was also disappointed since day-1… since they were expecting to work already by that time. And of course, every day of delay or non-project related work can only mean… a failure to meet the deadline. Which means… we will not be able to be allowed to go home.
I will be needing your email add… please send it to me.
2. I want to go back home. Repatriated- yes…
3. We are in an industrial area in exit 18, al fouzan area… Tarik Baladia road… I am not really familiar how to get here… but Ben is very familiar with the directions..
————————————————————————
Sender name : jespiritu
Sent – 01/10/2008 03:57:57 AM
Okay thanks for the clarification..
rick it just happend na arab at muslim yong amo mo. pero di natin lahatin..take note that we will be asking for help from arab muslims din ..
by the way, may contracts ba kayo ? if yes, can you give us a copy ?
yes you are partly to blame. we consider this as a self-inflicted distress case.. caused by ignorance.
Kasi if nagtanong-tanong lang kayo sana, or nagresearch sa internet sa mga pangyayaring katulad nito. then surely you would be empowered not to handle this project.
do you have copies of those emails that you sent to your employer before po kayo pumunta dito?
This needs a little planning. just keep on doing what you used to do. dont complain, or just ride-on na lang. iponin natin yong abuses as kalakasan natin at sa pagsampa natin ng reklamo ay isa-isahin natin yon.
mohandis means engineer. you are the team leader and you came here without agencies sa atin. correct me if I am wrong.. sa tsansa ko ikaw ang naghire or pumili ng mga workers or kasama mo na ito sa atin.
we really have to dig deeper. and have to strategize this case. rick.. I would like you to answer these three questions..
1. where are you ? – state how you were able to get here, then lahat ng experiences nyo dyan sa loob. then yong current situation.
2. where do you want to go ? – you want to be repatriated, what else..
3. how do we get there ? – let us handle this part..
i do believe that we have to re-write our request for assistance to the Governor of riyadh.
– without truth, there is no fairness..
– without fairness, there is no justice..
— dyan tayo makafocus. it doesnt matter if we made mistakes, the point is aaminin natin ..
for i strongly believe na yong dinaanan nyo ay sobra na po..
Kind regards,
tas
——————————————————————————–
Sender name : ehnriko
Sent – 01/10/2008 03:26:27 AM
I am not a business partner… I don’t think Arabs practice being partners with PInoys…
I am only an independent contractor.
I am the car designer… and my team is composed of engineers/ technicians and fabricators… who are well versed with finishing carpentry, fiberglass, metal and sheet metal works.
I was contacted directly… therefore, there were no agency involved.
We just used a freelance agency representative to follow up the visas i the Saudi Embassy in Philippines.
THe sponsor somehow manage to treat me as if I was an industrial partner in the early stages of the project… but I eventually realized that he only sees us as workmen.
For so many times we were utilised to work to non-project related jobs like fixing and repairing his cars and also his house. Well, this was what we have been doing for the first 3 months which was suposed to be utilized for the prototype construction alone.
Partly, I am to be blames why we were abused to work to non-project related jobs since I boasted about the capability of the team… if we can build a car or a truck prototype… surely we can easily build other things or fix them, little did I know it was going to be used against our favor.
Our desire to be finished in 6 months was shattered. Instead, we were coerced to sign another 4 months contract which already expired last July 15, 2007. However, our sponsor doesn’t seem to pay attention to this… and He only said… Why would you go home?… the project isn’t finished yet.
To add: He never really had the budget for this project. He is only relying on his government contracts to finance this. But his collection is not regular… and he always show a poker face so no one can tell if he has money or not.
He also told me this himself.
Actually I believe we were apprehended December 10, 2007 around 7 to 8 PM inside our workshop.
and going back to my role… I am the team leader… I can be considered also as worker.
AAAAA calls me as the muhandes.
Back to you Joseph.
enrico
Sender name : jespiritu
Sent – 01/10/2008 03:57:57 AM
rick tell me frankly pumunta ka ba dito as business partner or worker?
by the way, please check this letter that we are going to send to the Governor of riyadh
you may add kung ano ang gusto mo na i-add
To : HRH Prince Salman Bin Abdulaziz
Governor of Riyadh Region
Hon. Minister Gazi Algosaibi
Ministry of Labor
Thru: Engineer Abdullah Sabig
National Human Rights Organization
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Your Excellency,
Please help these Filipinos, Enrico Salgado Luga, Redentor Padua, Ronelo Jaime, Ignacio Holasca Jr., Ben Sangalang, Silbin Pongos.
These Filipinos are car designers. They are hired by AAAAA XXXX to build trucks. They arrived here last August 30, 2006 with business visit visas that will expire 6 months after that date. These Filipinos came here as workers and not businessmen. They thought that the employer can change their visit visas to working visas in due time.
note: message trunkated
Your Excellency, we strongly believe that the government of the Kingdom Saudi Arabia will not allow any harm or unfair treament to anyone living in the Kingdom regardless or race, nationality or creed.
Thank you Very much,
——————————————————
Sender name : ehnriko
Sent – 01/10/2008 01:23:35 AM
Hi Joseph,
The latest is that Mang Jun (Ignacio Holasca Jr.) was sent to Philippines yesterday… or the other day more or less… he was given only SAR1,000. his assignment was to hire 5 skilled people.; particularly:
1. CAD Operator
2. Hydraulics Operator
3. Car Assembly Technician
4. Tool and Die Maker/ Technician
5. CNC Operator
Mr. AAAAA intends to publish this opening in Manila Bulletin anytime… but I think he will ask Mang Jun to post this ad in Manila Bulletin by tomorrow.
Mang Juns Philippine number is +6392964xxxxx
He was also asked if he can do this in 10 days or less… these men are supposed to replace us. Unless these people are here… then I don’t think AAAAA will allow us to leave.
Herewith are the rest of the teams respective contact numbers:
Redentor Padua (Reden) – 05602xxxxx
Ronelo Jaime (Ronnie) – 056433xxx
Bienvenido Sangalang (Ben) – 056xxxxx
Sylvester Pongos (Silbin) – 05635xxxx
and the following is AAAAA Al xxxxxxxxx’s number:
*** 0505466201 ***
I am currently finishing some paper works like project summary overview, progress reports and some charts. AAAAA seems to be content when I am doing this. This way, the attention is drawn to these reports although I feel he never really reads them.
I let Reden and Ronnie spend the whole day in bed since they are really in their lowest of morals and spirits.. and fortunately… the spot welding machine is not in order… all the more reason why AAAAA cannot force them to work.
I have a strong feeling that if this machine is working… AAAAA will definitely force Reden and Ronnie to work.
The other day I asked AAAAA about our salary… he responded in this manner… “Why?… nobosy is working so why should I give salary?…” I again asked in an exxsperated manner how about the unpaid salaries?… but these words landed into futility.
AAAAA also told Silbin this morning… that he will not give allowance…
Anyway, I am actually happier that he is doing this… this only means he is getting no increase in leverage or hold on us. Good for the case.
However, I am still very much in fear.
I fear that should there be anybody calling him from the authorities… would make him really furious and mad and vent all his anger at me… and try to squeeze me into admiting that I am reporting or complaining to the authorities… I can’t help but have this fear since he has interogated or harassed me already twice.
The first time he harassed me.. he was even asking me to pay him P10Million!… I told him… for what reason?… I don’t know. He even have the nerve to tell me his total expense for 10 years in pursuing this business. Why should he blame this on me. when for more than 10 years he wasn’t even able or close to building a prototype to the level I have given him in less than a year!
He made me think that everything is my fault when I know very well that he is using psychological torture on me… however, the fear he wanted to plant in me was very successful.
I am just thankful to our Good Lord that my sanity is still in tact.
But I am definitely depressed… and low moral… and homesick.
Sometimes… I wish I was back in Jawasat prison… there I can feel more secured and protected.
Though I don’t have any physical jail cell barriers here, I feel like my other leg is in the death chambers…
Everytime, he will have me called to go to the office every morning… my heart beat would go pounding… I really feel scared. However, I try to show I am relaxed in front of him so he will not suspect me of anything.
I dont have a life here anymore…
I just want my life back…
Please make it appear that I have nothing to do with this… please try to make it appear that it is the wives of Reden or Ronnie who are the main complainant.
By the way, Ronnies’ wife is also sick right now… and also his children… he have 2 small daughters and they haven’t paid the rent already for 4 months. I sure wish I can do something about it.
Reden on the other hand has very old parents… also Ronnie… and they are afraid that once theire parents will find out about this… something might happen to their weak healths.
Ben on the other hand has a diabetic wife who needed badly to be operated… but for many months already… Ben is not able to send her money – she isn’t able to buy her medicines…
Silbins children on the other hand had to stop going to school and college… He is most of the time just staring on the wall.
How I wish I can do something for their families…. I really feel like I failed them… and I am responsible for this.
How could I know that we have encountered such a bad Arab.
All he cares about is his project… he will even mentione that family is important but first is the project.
What kind of a religious muslim would say these words???
AAAAA Al xxxxxxxxx is very well connected… in fact, he was able to get the other team out of Jawasat without paying his penalties to Jawasat…. it was only I whom he paid the penalties… which amounted to SR15,000… and he even got the nerve to tell me this as if it was my fault!
This guy is amazingly impossible.
I have never encountered such a personality… He is the first Arab I knew and probably the last one I want to know.
I’m sorry… I am carried away with the flow of thoughts wanting to come out…
again, please make our rescue as smooth as possible… I don’t want any drastic moves… this will endanger my life.
God bless us all…
Sender name: enrico luga
Email: ehnriko@yahoo.com
IP: 212.71.37.61
Joseph.. I registered in you website but i can’t seem to enter the forums… I am still in distress here now more than ever. I would have preferred to stay in Jawasat prison than being back here in my sponsors clutches. He paid for my release and he even have the nerve to blurt how much he paid for my release when it was due to his irresponsibility and doing. I really could use some advise from POLO or anyone responsible enough from the embassy… or Engineer sabig. I am depressed. Lampas na kami sa contract pero gusto pa rin kami pagtrabahuin in spite of what we have been through… ni hindi nga kami pinapasweldo… kulang sa amin 6 months na. the nerve of this arab is unbelievable!!! Our families are hungry and our wives are forced to get out of our houses to seek help from outside already… baon na nga kami sa utang… lalo pa kaming nabaon ngayon. I hope you can do something…. We really need help. And fast! enrico luga
Ehnriko Luga wrote:
From Ehnriko Luga Sat Apr 22 05:05:48 2006
Received: from [210.213.178.123] by web60721.mail.yahoo.com via HTTP; Sat, 22 Apr 2006 05:05:48 PDT
Date: Sat, 22 Apr 2006 05:05:48 -0700 (PDT)
From: Ehnriko Luga
Subject: truck design
To: AAAAA xxxxxxxx
Dear Sir:
Greetings!
Based on our last telephone conversation, I wish to inform you that I am amenable to your offered package. (Free Hotel Accomodation, Travel Expense and Visa Documentations @ USD1,500 per month)
As of today, I am able to form a group of 4 men in my team, 1 Class B Structural Welder, 1 Class B+ Welder, 1 Carbon Fiber Molder Technician, 1 Mechanical and and 1 Fabrication Technician. I am still waiting for the Pattern Maker and Sheet Metal Welder to report by next week. I will have their resumes’ ready also by next week.
So far, they are asking a salary of USD700.00 (Free lodging and accomodation) per month) if possible. I believe I could work with only 5 men in the mean time, since the Interior and Electrical Works will come in Later on the FInishing stages of the Proto-type construction (5th month).
For the production outfit;
the initial physical requirement will be a space or room to serve as our design studio where we can make the mockup construction of parts and or scale model, as well as full size pattern and drawings.
At least 1 Desk Top Computer, Penthium 4 with large Hard Disk space and peripherals for making and printing CAD or Adobe-based designs and renderings)
THe Prototype Fabrication Room; must have welding equipments and materials… (Angular Bars, Round Bars and G.I. sheets and Card Boards for the patterns)
Wood works tools and materials will also be needed for making the patterns/ molds.
FIber Glass or Carbon Fiber Materials and Tools
The Base – Truck Chassis
Other List will be made as needed.
Thank you very much sir for considering us.
Best regards!
Enrico Luga
From: Enrico Luga
To: Ang Inyong Lingkod
Sent: Tuesday, January 8, 2008 8:36 PM
Subject: disempowered OFW
Hi Joseph,
I may have given you the wrong signals when we had our last telephone conversation…
I am distressed.. and I do need help.
I want to be home to my family.
My contract has been breached by my sponsor since day 1… my wife can show the proof… I forwarded her all my emails to and fro before I accepted this project. Everything I told my sponsor to prepare before my team and I will arrive to riyadh wasn’t prepared.
We even have to make our own shop and facilities and equipments – which is never included in our first agreement.
But now I just feel deceived, mentally tortured, harassed, blackmailed and enslaved to finish the obsessive dream of my sponsor.
How can I do this and my team when our families are hungry and our spirits are down… our prison experience in Jawasat is not OK… but compared to the psychological prison we are in right now our very own workshop building… then I must say that I would rather be back in JAWASAT prison.
I hope I am sending the right signals to you right now.
Best regards…
sincerely,
enrico
P.S.
We are still in need of help.
Prayers will do… and a more concrete advise where to go… and a more reassuring word that we will be given refuge and be sent home as well as protection from a cunningly dangerous violent sponsor.
My team hasn’t witnessed our sponsors rage and fury… I did… two times already. I am actually terrified.
——————————————-
This message was sent by the AngInyongLingkod.com MailForm at http://anginyonglingkod.com
—
From: Joseph Henry B. Espiritu
To: Joseph Henry B. Espiritu ; Rolando Blanco ; Rachel Salinel
Cc: PEACE – PINOY ;Dante E. Agnote
Sent: Sunday, December 30, 2007 11:20 AM
Subject: Interview with Enrico.
I talked with enrico
i asked him about the treatment sa jawasat sa kanya. okay naman daw kaso nga lang lumalala yong sakit nya doon, (iba-ibang lahi naman kasi doon) i asked him about the facilities , ang pagkain sa kulungan, k naman daw kaso medyo nafrustrate lang sya dahil di nya naman akalain na sa buong buhay nya ay makapasok sya ng kulungan. i told him na deportation area po yan at hindi kulungan ng mga criminal.
i asked him bakit may sakit sya. sabi nya nakuha nya sa pagawaan ng kotse. – occupational sickness.. ito yong bagay na dapat matutunan ng ofws na kung sakali ay pupunta sila siguradohin nila na nasa tama ang lahat.
he was not expecting naman daw na lalagpas ng 6 months. i told him din na bakit walang nagreklamo at saka lang after sila mahuhuli.
6 months daw na salary ang hindi nya natanggap. name of employer is AAAAA XXXX – influential daw na family.. hmmm okay.
he even mentioned to me, na sinaktan din sya ng amo nya. binugbog daw sya.
too bad na ngayon lang natin nalalaman ang nangyari sa ating kababayan or hindi man lang sila nagreklamo sa ating polo. or embassy. he told me na may preservation sya dahil di naman daw sila aaksyunan based sa kanilang narinig. at least he could have tried.
I told enrico, na i will talk to engineer sabig of human rights independence and we will see what we can do. kahit yong 6 months na sahod ay makuha man lang. sabi naman wala daw pera ang kanyang employer. (well, ang batas ay dapat masusunod). have to bring this to the governors office na rin. Para naman bago makaalis ang mga ito ay may madadala kahit papano.
– this is a good story, para maempower natin ang mga kababayan na maging handa kung sakali nanainisin nilang magwork sa ibang lugar. pero i dont think it will be fair for the media to attack the saudi government. pahirapan tayo ditto kung papano makipagtie-up sa kanila to solve the distress cases or in our fight against bad employer. wag naman sayangin.
by the way engineer sabig was the guest in saudi tv 1 last night at yong 1 hour na show ay umabot ng halos 3 hours. doon napag-usapan yong case ni ate tess santos yong rape victim sa jeddah na pinabayaan ng ating consulate. yong sa 3 dentists natin dito bro roland. at yong case nina milo ramos, julian camat at nap fabrigas na nakulong ng 5 years at napawalang sala dahil sa tulongan natin with sabig (not to mention the kapabayaan ng ans ng jeddah consulate) . we will meet at 2pm today sa hotel, hope kasama si ka roland to interview him.
kind regards,
tas
“Joseph Henry B. Espiritu” wrote:
Jawasat – means deportation area where all undocumented / illegal stayers (male) in Riyadh are placed. Hindi po ito katulad ng kulungan kung saan magserve ng sentence ang mga crime offenders. They will stay there for a maximum of 45 days (this is to ensure that the migrants had not violated any criminal law of saudi arabia – SOP to)
it was written : They initially arrived there last August 30, 2006 for a six month contract and proceeded to work for their employer.
-ano ba ang visa nila ? visit visa ? sa tsansa ko hindi working visa ang nakatatak sa passport nila dahil kung working visa then hindi lang 6 month period ang hilingin ng employer nila. Take note family visit visas must be renewed 3 months. while business visit visas ay for 6 months. may mga visit visa na renewable pero may limit. at hindi pwede gamitin ng migrant worker.
it was written – Thus on December 11, 2007, to their surprise, the Saudi Police raided their workplace and arrested those present for working without an eqama (work permit).
Iqama is a residence permit, it is issued sa mga migrants na may work visas at yong mga dependents ng may working visas .
Now it is quite clear to me that this story is the same sa mga stories ng mga pumunta dito with visit visas pero nagwork at naabuso ng mga employers.
Unbeknownst to them, the employer also never processed the extension of their work permits even though he has asked them to submit all their documents to him.
what work permit ? there is no work permit to visit visas? nalilito na ako dito. because only with working visa ang maissue-han ng work permit.
It was written : Thus on December 11, 2007, to their surprise, the Saudi Police raided their workplace and arrested those present for working without an eqama (work permit).
Because they are illegal stayers, they are not arrested because of crime. at hindi sila dadalhin sa kulongan ng mga crime offenders. kundi sa deportation.
I never see any lapses on the part of the Saudi Government authorities dito.
ang dapat mablame dito ay yong employer for abusing these workers. at partly to blame din ang ating mga kababayan dahil sa ignorance.
1. visit visa – hindi ka kasali sa saudi labor law. mahirap maipaglaban yong karapatan mo batay sa naturang batas dahil hindi naman ito mga workign visa holders.
1.1 papan kung may occupationa injury or occupational sickness? papano sila gagamutin?
1.2 papano kung idelay yong sahod nila? natanggap ba nila ngayon ang sahod nila ?
1.3 papano yong mga benepisyo.
kaya bago papunta sa pilipinas, alamin ang karapatan, mga dapat matutunan bago sasabak sa ibang bansa na sariling batas, kultura at tradisyon.
– i dont think it is fair to attack the saudi government dahil sa mali ng isang employer.
– take note yong deportation or kahit yong mga kulungan dito ay mas maganda pa kumpara sa kulongan ng pilipinas.
– dont you worry makakauwi ang ating mga kababayan. and if ever may mga sahod pa sila na dapat makuha. i will try to talk to some saudis na naka-align sa ating advocacy para matulongan sila.
– bro ill meet engineer sabig. dadalhin ko rin ang story na ito sa kanya.
ito lang po muna at maraming salamat
tas
Rolando Blanco wrote:
Hi Elle,
I am including Joseph in the loop as I’m passing this case to OFW SOS Helpline for validation.
At para madali rin ang action.
Joseph will respond to you guys shortly.
Cheers,
Olan
From: Rachel Salinel
Sent: Sunday, December 30, 2007 9:01 AM
To: Rolando Blanco
Cc: ; PEACE – PINOY;Dante E. Agnote
Subject: [[SPAM]] – Re: Expats in KSA – Found word(s) home based money in the Text body
Hi olan,
will be grateful if you can look into the below story regarding ofws in jail, urgent!
appreciate your update as well.
salamat in advance,
elle
On 12/30/07, PEACE – PINOY wrote:
Mam Rachelle,
Humihingi po ng tulong ang ating mga kababayan sa KSA. posted na po ito sa aming forum para makakalap ng repatration, ganun din po sa ibang forum, lalung lalo na sa www.tsikot.com , ang aming HQ sa Pinas. Wala po kaming access sa KSA / TFC, baka lang kako maipahatid natin sa kinauukulan or thru Mr. Dindo Amparo.
Maraming salamat po and God Bless!!!
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
My fellow tsikoteers, friends in media, bloggers and friends,
This is a letter sent to me by Mrs. Ellaine Luga, wife of Enriko, a fellow tsikot.com who is currently trapped in Saudi Arabia with his team of automobile designers. I am personally asking for all of your support on whatever resources we can share to help our kababayans.
A group of OFWs are currently unjustly imprisoned in Saudi Arabia in Cel# 6 Simisi Main Office of Jawasat because their employer had failed to process their eqama (work permit).
The OFWs, a team of automobile designers headed by Enrico Salgado Luga (tsikot nick – ehnriko), was originally recruited by their employer to design and build a truck, a first for Saudi Arabia . They initially arrived there last August 30, 2006 for a six month contract and proceeded to work for their employer.
The employer was initially kind to the team and paid their salaries on time. However he apparently soon encountered financial difficulties as project components weren’t procured promptly, causing significant delay. The team consequently had to extend their stay. However he gradually started delaying payment of their salaries as well and has not paid them for the last seven months. Moreover, their working hours were also extended to the point they hardly were given time off to rest.
Unbeknownst to them, the employer also never processed the extension of their work permits even though he has asked them to submit all their documents to him. Thus on December 11, 2007, to their surprise, the Saudi Police raided their workplace and arrested those present for working without an eqama (work permit). Two of the men, Ben Sangalang and Silbin Pongos, were fortunately not at the premises and managed to avoid arrest.
The rest of the team,
1. Enrico Salgado Luga
2. Redentor Padua
3. Ronelo Jaime
4. Ignacio Holasca Jr
5. Shams Tabrez Comred (Egyptian)
were arrested and jailed.
The employer promised to bail them out within 3 days but only Mr. Luga was bailed out and only after six days. The rest are still incarcerated in an unsanitary, congested jail without clean clothes, beds, pillows nor medicine for the various diseases they have since contracted. Their health conditions continue to deteriorate due to the inhumane jail conditions.
These men are ordinary automobile designers trying to earn a decent living overseas, given the lack of opportunities here in our own country. They are neither criminals nor fugitives. That they were working without an eqama is clearly the fault of their employer. Yet they are the ones being punished while their saudi arabian employer walks free.
Note: The identity of the employer has been withheld in this letter per the request of ehnriko for fear of possible additional retribution in the event their situation becomes widely-known via the Internet.
As much as the men are hoping our government will help them they are also realistic. Theirs is not the first case of injustice done to an OFW. Certainly it won’t be the last. But for the families of these men, what matters is that these men are able to back home safely and hopefully be with their respective families this holiday season.
Some of the tsikoteers have been working behind the scene by contacting resource persons to help get them out. In fact, Mon Tulfo had interceded on their behalf by contacting the Philippine embassy in Riyadh , only to be told our government can not officially act until January 5 because of the various holidays both here and in Saudi Arabia .
In the meantime, the men are languishing in jail without medication or sufficient food. While ehnriko has been bailed out and is presently staying with a friend, he is without any money (for food or medication). He is still in Riyadh simply because he feels responsible for them, having personally recruited them for the project there. At this point all of them desperately need our help.
We would like to appeal to our fellow tsikoteers, especially to those who are based in Saudi Arabia , to offer whatever kind of assistance they can provide – financial, medical, food, etc. – to the team.
For those who may have physical access to the team in Riyadh you may contact the men directly through their mobile phones. Note only ehnriko is a tsikoteer. He is also the team leader, so it may be best to contact him. Just identify yourself as a tsikoteer.
Enrico S. Luga (ehnriko) – +966563xxxxx
Redentor Padua – +966560xxx
Ronelo Jaime – +966564xxx
For other tsikoteers who would like to help kindly contact Jedi of tsikot.com directly at 63905-33xxxx. Any help will greatly be appreciated.
In the interim, we also ask you to please spread their story so that we can pressure our government to help them. Hopefully we can also, via on-line forums, email groups, and blogs, manage to bring our collective voice to the international forefront so that the Saudi Arabian government will rectify the situation. (If you intend to pass this along, please add the http://tsikot.yehey.com/forums/showthread.php?t=45882 URL for this thread.)
And if you would like to help or provide any other suggestions, please do not hesitate to contact me, Elaine Manalaysay Luga, wife of Enrico Luga at +63.46.5xxxxx or +63.919xxxxx. You can also email or YM me at elainemml_111@yahoo.com.
On behalf of ehnriko and his team, maraming salamat po.
Elaine Manalaysay Luga
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Dante E. Agnote
Operations Controller
Emirates Star Services L.L.C.
Pizzaland & Royal Konafa
—
Live with passion & purpose,
Elle