Enraged officials of the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration condemned the rising cases of child abuses case in the region, including the killing of two-year old John Earl his guardian-relatives in Calinan, Davao City.
“It is saddening to hear when a child is killed,” Bellido told reporters at the Kapihan sa Davao yesterday, after formally handing over financial assistance worth ₱50,000 to Erlinda Cagalitan, mother of John Earl.
At the same time OWWA XI director Eduardo Bellido called on lawmakers to come up with a policy that will address the issue of when parents need to work abroad—regardless of how uncertain the welfare of their loved ones who are left behind will be.
It can be recalled that two-year-old child John Earl died on November 14 after he was placed in a sack and beaten up by his guardians, identified as Sarah Jane and Ronilo Alcain at their residence.
According to OWWA XI Director Eduardo Bellido, John Earl suffered his fate at the hands of the couple with whom he was entrusted by his mother, a migrant worker in Bahrain.
“The police report said the child was killed due to excessive mauling after he urinated intermittently in his pants,” Bellido told the reporters on Monday.
Bellido said that most mothers who work overseas usually leave their children in the care of their relatives as in the case of Erlinda Cagalitan, John Earl’s mother.
Aside from financial support, Bellido mentioned that OWWA would also provide livelihood and training assistance to the child’s mother and psycho-social counseling to the family members.
“Erlinda [John Earl’s mom] also requested that one of her children may be placed in a scholarship program to help ease expenses in education,” Bellidosaid, adding that OWWA may do such as soon as the new guidelines will be released.
Bellido added that all these are in line with the directive issued by Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Secretary Silvestre Bello III to provide protection for the workers and their respective families.
He added that the cheque was personally given by OWWA deputy administrator Josefino Torres on Monday morning, November 21, 2016.
Meanwhile, the mother of the victim said she cannot believe what happened to her son.
“I even asked Sarah what to cook for Christmas to which she told me her plans. I also asked her about the children – but suddenly, Teresita [grandmother] told me that my child died,” Erlinda said in an interview, adding that she demands for justice and wants to put the suspects in jail.
The mother of the victim is set to fly back to Bahrain for work next month.
Enraged
OWWA XI Director Eduardo Bellido condemned rising cases of child abuse following the recent death of John Earl, whose mother is an OFW.
“It is frustrating to hear the news on how the child was killed,” Bellido told reporters in Tagalog.
He added that the welfare of the migrant workers’ must also be protected the workers as mandated by OWWA.
Bellido also expressed his apprehension towards OFWs who risk their lives and work hard to provide the needs of their family only to find out that the loved ones they left are dead.
He pointed out that many OFWs leave their children under the custody of their sibling or cousin or relatives and they work really hard.
Bellidovowed to coordinate with the local government units (LGUs) to make the OFWs come home without compromising their families.
“We [OWWA] will have a meeting with Department of Socia Welfare and Development (DSWD), Department of Justice (DOJ), Philippine Counsel for the Welfare of Children, and other advocacy groups to strengthen the cooperation among the stakeholders, and to prevent and avoid child abuse particularly to the children of the migrant workers,” Bellido said.
Region XI has 35,000 overseas workers, 85% of which are from Davao City and Davao del Sur.
