Human Right Commission probe Malaysia

A composite team of the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) will go to Malaysia to verify firsthand the allegations of human rights abuses against Filipino overseas workers particularly those cThe Commission on Human Rights (CHR) is set to send a team to Malaysia to verify firsthand the allegations of human rights abuses against Filipino overseas workers particularly those allegedly committed by Malaysian deportation authorities on women and children migrants.

According to CHR Chairperson Leila De Lima, the Commission received reports that OFWs and Filipino women and children suffered human rights violations under detention in Sabah and Sandakan in Malaysia.

“We have received complaints of this nature from the deportees themselves from our Regional Office in Zamboanga. And as an independent constitutional office mandated to protect, promote and fulfill the human rights of every Filipino, whether residing here or abroad as a result of their work thereat, we are duty bound to look after their welfare and well-being as well,” De Lima said.

De Lima said the CHR Special Mission Team will be headed by Commissioner Norberto Dela Cruz, a lawyer and a respected Public Prosecutor before joining the Commission. He will be joined by Atty. Jose Manuel Mamauag, CHR Region IX Director, as well as lawyers and special investigators.

The reported abuses were also brought to the attention of the CHR by Cagayan de Oro Rep. Rufus Rodriguez during deliberations at the lower House on the proposed budget of the CHR last October 7, 2008.

She added that the conduct of the probe and eventual assistance to Filipino nationals will be fully coordinated with the Commission on Human Rights of Malaysia.

According to the December 2007 statistics from the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA), there are at least 244,967 Filipinos in Malaysia with the following category: (1) permanent or those who have already migrated to Malaysia because of marriage or other factors; (2) temporary or those workers processed by the POEA; (3) irregular workers or non-processed by the POEA also known as undocumented workers. The latter category is the most susceptible to abuses, said De Lima.

The CHR chief explained that irregular workers are lured by unscrupulous agents or recruitment agencies through illegal or back-door channels.

She said Filipinos are smuggled into Malaysia by sea due to the proximity of Zamboanga, as well as other places in Mindanao, to Malaysia.

“Whatever the circumstances that have brought them there it should not be [permissible for] Malaysian deportation authorities or any host country for that matter, to abuse or maltreat migrants. They should be respected as any individual should be– they should be given equal dignity as any other citizen of the world,” De Lima said.

Malaysian authorities are very strict with regard to its immigration rules. In the early 90’s Malaysian authorities conducted rounds in churches and houses arresting illegal or irregular workers including Filipino nationals.ommitted by Malaysian deportation authorities on women and children migrants.

According to CHR Chairperson Leila De Lima, the Commission received reports that OFWs and Filipino women and children suffered human rights violations under detention in Sabah and Sandakan in Malaysia.

“We have received complaints of this nature from the deportees themselves from our Regional Office in Zamboanga. And as an independent constitutional office mandated to protect, promote and fulfill the human rights of every Filipino, whether residing here or abroad as a result of their work thereat, we are duty bound to look after their welfare and well-being as well,” De Lima said.

De Lima said the CHR Special Mission Team will be headed by Commissioner Norberto Dela Cruz, a lawyer and a respected Public Prosecutor before joining the Commission. He will be joined by Atty. Jose Manuel Mamauag, CHR Region IX Director, as well as lawyers and special investigators.

The reported abuses were also brought to the attention of the Commission by Cagayan de Oro Representative Rufus Rodriguez during the Congressional deliberations on the proposed budget of the CHR last October 7, 2008.

She added that the conduct of the probe and eventual assistance to Filipino nationals will be fully coordinated with the Commission on Human Rights of Malaysia.

According to the December 2007 statistics from the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA), there are at least 244,967 Filipinos in Malaysia with the following category: (1) permanent or those who have already migrated to Malaysia because of marriage or other factors; (2) temporary or those workers processed by the POEA; (3) irregular workers or non-processed by the POEA also known as undocumented workers. The latter category is the most susceptible to abuses, Chairperson De Lima said.

De Lima explained that irregular workers are lured by unscrupulous agents or recruitment agencies through illegal or back-door channels.

She said Filipinos are smuggled into Malaysia by sea due to the proximity of Zamboanga, as well as other places in Mindanao, to Malaysia.

“Whatever the circumstances that have brought them there it should not be [permissible for] Malaysian deportation authorities or any host country for that matter, to abuse or maltreat migrants. They should be respected as any individual should be– they should be given equal dignity as any other citizen of the world,” De Lima said.

Malaysian authorities are very strict with regard to its immigration rules. In the early 90’s Malaysian authorities conducted rounds in churches and houses arresting illegal or irregular workers including Filipino nationals.

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