The following is an open letter penned by Ofelia A. Laguardia addressed to Dept. of Migrant Workers Sec. Susan Ople pleading for her help in the case her husband, Manual P. Laguardia Sr., which has now dragged on for three years.
“WHEN THE Dept. of Migrant
Workers was created by the Marcos Administration, my husband and I—among the
multitude of Filipinos beset with problems overseas—saw a glimmer of light at
the end of the tunnel.
“My husband, Manual P. Laguardia Sr. worked in Jeddah, Saudi
Arabia as civil engineer for 37 years and yours truly as educator for 20 years.
We both retired three years ago and I was able to return to our beloved
Philippines; but my poor husband was left behind wallowing in sickness and
despair because his passport was confiscated by his employer in Saudi Arabia
for reasons we could not fully comprehend.
“Our separation led us both to fits of depression and
helplessness as since then, we were both unemployed and that our savings was
being depleted faster than we anticipated.
“Our woes stemmed from an alleged money laundering case imposed on
my husband. We have submitted all the pertinent papers to disprove it as my
husband is a man of upright character. Sometime in 2010, I was offered by
Prince Bader Bin Khalid Al Saud to manage the Bader International School. At
the outset, he provided us an NCB Al Ahli Bank Code Generator to be used in
paying bills of the school. Later on, however, the devise expired so we asked
him to make a renewal, which did not come despite constant follow-up. When
bills started to mount, the school's Parent-Teachers Association (PTA) composed
mostly of Filipinos passed a resolution to use the account of my husband who is
a bonafide member.
“Funds of the school were then deposited to his name which in turn
were used to procure books, to finance the "IQAMA" and appurtenant
expenses of teachers like labor cards and medical insurances, likewise to pay
the goods, services, utilities and other incidentals which are all properly
accounted for.
“Sadly, this set-up arranged for convenience of all concerned
including Prince Bader backfired. He was questioned of dispensing money not
commensurate to his earnings. We were quick in providing pertinent papers to
authorities for his defense. We submitted affidavits of resource persons and
from bill recipients. Even the Prince himself issued a certification attesting to
the legitimacy of the transactions.
“It has been three years since then but the case dragged on. The
assistance we asked from the Philippine Consulate did not come fully as
expected. Worse, the lawyer they sent to assist quit at midstream. Every time
we followed-up on the case for expediency, we were told the same thing, ‘to
wait as the case is still being investigated’.
“We urgently appeal for the intercession of the newly designated
Secretary of Migrant Workers, Susan Ople. It is very necessary for my husband
to come home because he is at the brink of breaking down. His health is fast deteriorating
due to his stage 3 prostate cancer which necessitated him to undergo
orchidectomy. He is also afflicted with chronic diabetes and gets four injections
of insulin every day. Both of us are losing weight due to anxiety and lack of
sleep. My condition is equally worse having been recently subjected to an open-heart
surgery with mitral valve replacement (MVP). We really need to be together
again.
“MADAM SECRETARY, I honestly believe we deserve all the help we
could get from the government. We worked hard half of our lives in a country
far from our family earning dollars to spruce up our economy and we take pride
in being branded living heroes of our times.
We appeal for your mercy and compassion. You are our ultimate hope to
bail us of this predicament.”
(SGD )OFELIA A. LAGUARDIA
San Carlos City,
Pangasinan
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