Press Statement

11 July 2008

For Reference: Ramon Bultron
Managing Director, APMM
Contact Nos. (852) 2723-7536 / 9477-3141

To Philippine Ambassador to South Korea:
Don't turn your back. Assist the Arrested, Detained and Deported Filipinos in South Korea!

The Asia Pacific Mission for Migrants, a regional migrant centre with regional office based in Hong Kong, deplore the recent statements made by the Philippine Ambassador to South Korea, Luis T. Cruz, "that there is nothing new with the deportation of Filipinos especially if their contracts have long expired".

The Philippine Ambassador also added that, "This is not an unusual process. Some Filipino workers have a tendency to overstay after their three-year contract expires".

This statement from a high-ranking diplomat of the Philippine government is insensitive and a very callous insult to those Filipinos arrested, detained and deported from South Korea as well as to their families back home.

According to reports, the Korean Immigration police use electric stun guns in rounding up migrant workers. Even pregnant women and men who are sick are arrested, incarcerated and consequently deported by the immigration police.

May we ask Ambassador Cruz if he also believes that there is nothing unusual about this?

Ambassador Cruz must not turn his back on those arrested undocumented Filipinos. Instead, the Philippine Embassy must provide assistance in securing immediate travel documents, secure funds for their airfare and assist them to secure their personal belongings.

Lastly, we would like to remind Ambassador Cruz that those undocumented migrants are also citizens of the Republic of the Philippines and they have been helping to save the ailing economy of the Philippines through their remittances. Hence, all the more that they deserve to receive protection and any form of assistance from their own government.

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Asia Pacific Mission for Migrants (APMM)
G/F, No.2 Jordan Road, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR

Tel. no.: (852) 2723-7536
Fax no.: (852) 2735-4559
General E-mail: apmm@hknet.com

Other Email Addresses:
Managing Director : director@apmigrants.org / rbultron@gmail.com
Advocacy Program : advocacy@apmigrants.org / rbultron@gmail.com
Research and Publication: publications@apmigrants.org / ahc@hknet.com
Women's Program : women@apmigrants.org / ecbuhay@gmail.com

WEBSITE: www.apmigrants.org