Filipina Soul

Held for four excrutiating days, two Filipino oil workers were released Sunday by their Nigerian captors after the workers’ employer Petroleum Geo-Services negotiated for their release. Joseph Doctolero and Pacifico Gajo are expected to come home within the week.

We wish them a safe return and warm reunion with their families.

[Source: Manila Standard Today]

                                                                              —————

In the meantime, President Gloria signed a law that abolishes the death penalty, citing the possibility of wrongful execution as one reason for the new law. The Supreme Court has overturned seven out of 10 lower-court death sentences since 1993. Congress, too, approved a bill abolishing capital punishment two weeks ago. Gloria vowed to continue the battle against terrorists and criminals. On the other hand, the anti-crime activitists believe Arroyo rushed the approval to please the Vatican where she will meet the Pope in her visit to Europe this week. 

[Source: China Post Online]

                                                                              —————-

Despite the continued ban on deploying Filipino workers to Iraq, more than 2,000 Filipino workers have sneaked into Iraq to work for US military camps. An average of 100 workers a month slip into the war-torn country via Dubai and surrounding countries using forged documents issued by unscrupulous travel agencies.  Because of this, some recruiters petitioned the government to lift the ban instead!… (And what, send our fellowmen into harm’s way?!)

[Source: Philippine Headline News Online]

1 Comment