Migrante International Chairperson Garry Martinez today slammed what he called the Department of Foreign Affairs’ (DFA) double standards in its handling of Ilocos Sur Rep. Ronaldo Singson’s drug trafficking case in relation to the agency’s lack of assistance to OFWs victimized by drug syndicates abroad.

Martinez said that when they first brought to the DFA’s attention the case of 195 OFWs jailed in China on drug-related cases last year, DFA Usec. for Migrant Workers’ Affairs Esteban Conejos iss… Continue

Migrante International chairperson Garry Martinez today described Pres. Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III’s first State of the Nation Address as “matabang (bland), stating the obvious and empty in merit.”

“Aquino said that we can dream again but there was no mention at all of plans that would give hope to millions of our OFWs. What of the dreams of those 102 in death row, 1,665 victims of human trafficking, hundreds in jail, more than 10,000 stranded in other countries and the six to 10 remains of OF… Continue

Stop forced migration, create jobs at home

Migrante International, an alliance of overseas Filipino workers, families and advocates worldwide, today called on President Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino to make good his promise of stopping forced migration by generating more local jobs.

"Our people are being forced to go abroad out of desperation," said Garry Martinez, chairperson of Migrante International.

Martinez said that there are currently 11 million OFWs and an estimated 3,800 leaving the… Continue

Investigate Romulo in anomalous e-passport contract – Migrante Int’l

Migrante International today called on the Aquino administration to stop the increase in e-passport application fees in light of allegations that the contract entered into by the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), headed by Secretary Alberto Romulo, for the procurement of the new e-passport is illegal and tainted with corruption.

Overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) and applicants have been complaining of the rise in the… Continue

Migrante International today called on the Aquino administration to investigate the overpricing of e-passport applications in light of allegations that the contract entered into by the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), headed by Secretary Alberto Romulo, for the procurement of the new e-passport is illegal and tainted with corruption.

Overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) and applicants have been complaining of the rise in the cost of passport fees following the issuance of the new e-passports by… Continue