Two Cagayan (Valley) OFWs rescued from abusive employers in Saudi Arabia

TUGUEGARAO CITY, CAGAYAN. February 14, 2018 - Two more Oversees Filipino Workers, Jenalyn Tumbali of Penablanca, Cagayan and Rovelyn Orlanda from Baggao, Cagayan were rescued from their abusive employers in Saudi Arabia after posting their urgent calls for help seen by their relatives and friends on social media site Facebook. They immediately sought the intervention of Kilusang Pagbabago-Region 2 on its Facebook page.

Both OFWs’ plight and cries for help were urgently brought to the attention of the Kilusang Pagbabago-Cagayan Valley through Facebook. Upon seeing their posts, KP-Cagayan Valley immediately brought their requests for assistance to the Oversees Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) Regional Office in Tuguegarao City who acted promptly by immediately coordinating with the concerned offices and institutions like the Philippine Embassy and the recruitment agency resulting to the rescue and abrupt repatriation of the distressed OFWs who were victims of maltreatment in Saudi Arabia.

After  merely seventy-two hours when KP-Cagayan Valley acted on the FB posts, OFW Jenalyn Tumbali was able to post on her Facebook page that her flight to Manila will be on February 14, 2018 after Philippine authorities were able to legally arrange the necessary activities to facilitate her return to Manila. Sources indicate that OFW Rovelyn Orlando's case is now being addressed by Philippine officials in Saudi Arabia.  The story was followed through radio stations Bombo Radyo and Radyo Ng Bayan.

The Kilusang Pagbabago (KP) is a purely volunteer movement for a REAL CHANGE, inspired by the President Duterte’s call, and by the persevering effort of Cabinet Secretary Jun Evasco to consolidate and institutionalize active citizens participation in governance, the formation of Kilusang Pagbabago is being spearheaded by most of the core members of Duterte’s campaign teams in various regions during the presidential election campaign period.

The Kilusang Pagbabago can be described as the "Couterpart-Citizens-Extension" of the Duterte government’s desire to effect real social change because it professes to be “for the helpless, hopeless, defenseless” and vows to make “tinud- anay nga kausaban (REAL CHANGE)" in politics, economics, military, culture and foreign relations. It is directly linked to the Office of the Cabinet Secretary through the Office of Participatory Governance (OPG) in Malacanang.

During the height of the crisis, the families of the OFWs were assisted at OWWA-Region 2 by Vircy Tamayao, Head of Program and Services; Juvilyn Anns Gumabay, Welfare Case Officer; Luzviminda Tumaliuan, Education and Training Unit;  and Pilipina Dino, Regional Director. Also present at the OWWA office were Kilusang Pagbabago-Cagayan Valley officers - Romulo Gabertan-KP Regional Coordinator; Nap Baltazar-KP Program Director; and Nathaniel Gumangan, KP-PRO. (Photos courtesy of Nathaniel Gumangan, PRO, KP-Cagayan Valley)

Jenelyn Tumbali from Penablanca, Cagayan is a domestic helper in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Roverlyn Orlanda, from Baggao, Cagayan initially sought help on social media Facebook page when relatives and friends saw her posts on Facebook. The latter immediately sought help through Kilusang Pagbabago-Cagayan Valley.

KP -Cagayan Valley officials immediately accompanied the OWFs' relatives to OWWA Region 2 for help.

KP-Cagayan Valley and OWWA Region 2 officials successfully coordinated with the concerned agencies resulting to the rescue of the abused OFWs.

Coming home finally....