Sen. Erwin Tulfo Reacts To Complaints that Concerned Gov’t Agencies’ Hotlines Are Allegedly Unreachable
ERWIN TULFO – The Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman called on the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), and Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) to do their job amid the Middle East tension.
The recent airstrikes of the United States and Israel against Iran caught the attention of the world. According to U.S. President Donald Trump, Iran allegedly conducts a long-running campaign of violence against American interests. He also stressed that Iranian leaders supposedly refused to abandon their nuclear ambitions.
Unfortunately, a Filipina caregiver in Israel, Mary Ann Velasquez De Vera, died due to the airstrike. The 32-year-old victim was reportedly helping her ward proceed for shelter when the unfortunate incident that took her life happened.
Pres. Ferdinand Marcos Jr. announced the death of the Filipina caregiver. According to the Chief Executive, the spouse of the Filipina caregiver identified her identity who is also an overseas Filipino worker (OFW) in Israel.
Mary Ann Velasquez De Vera reportedly works as an OFW in Israel since 2019. Marcos Jr. assured that the government will extend all the assistance needed by the bereaved family of the Pinay caregiver who died in the airstrike.
The President called on the Filipinos in the Middle East to stay indoors as repatriation of OFWs not yet possible then. Yesterday, it was reported that 299 Pinoys were repatriated amid the tension in the Middle East. However, there are allegedly complaints that the hotlines of the concerned agencies are unreachable amid the security concerns of many OFWs. Sen. Erwin Tulfo reacted to it.
Based on News5, Sen. Erwin Tulfo who leads the Senate Foreign Relations Committee called on the DFA, OWWA, and DMW to do their job amid the complaints that their hotlines allegedly cannot be accessed.
“Gawin ninyo ang trabaho ninyo, hindi ‘yung pasarap-sarap lang kayo riyan,” Tulfo said.
Sen. Erwin Tulfo also claimed that officials of the concerned agencies were allegedly traveling often to Dubai prior to the Middle East tension. He stressed that they should do their job which he called “hazards of your trade”.
“Nang walang giyera, nandiyan kayo sa Dubai, pasyal dito, pasyal doon. Ngayong giyera na, kasama sa trabaho niyo ‘yan. Iyan ‘yung sinasabing hazards of your trade,” the Senator said.
Senate Foreign Relations Committee chairman Erwin Tulfo stressed that is an opportunity for the concerned agencies to shine. Based on the post, the Senate panel will discuss today the possible punishment for the officials or employees who will not do their job.
“Magtatanong sila, gusto nilang magpa-evacuate eh, wala silang makausap. This should be your shining moment — DFA, DMW, at saka OWWA sa ibang bansa,” Tulfo added.