KUWAIT CITY : Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWS) in Kuwait have expressed strong support for former Philippine Labour Attache to Kuwait and Iraq and former Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) Deputy Administrator Atty Angelo 'Jijil' Jimenez to be the next OWWA Administrator. More than a thousand OFWs have already signed in the online petition on www.petitiononline.com/Jimenez/petition.html addressed to Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo which was launched on Thursday by Filipino community leaders in Kuwait. Jimenez is one of the candidates being eyed by the Philippine government to head the OWWA, however, an administration senatorial candidate, Prospero Pichay, who lost in last year's election is also said to be contesting for the top post prompting OFWs in Kuwait to endorse Jimenez who they believe is the right man for the job.
The OWWA, an attached agency of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) is the lead government agency tasked to protect and promote the welfare and well-being of OFWs and their dependents. In the online petition, OFWs in Kuwait as well as in other countries strongly recommend Jimenez who has rose from the ranks and spent much of his professional life as Labor Attache in the Middle East until his appointment as OWWA Deputy Administrator. "From the start up to the height of the kidnappings and killings in Iraq from 2003 to 2005, Atty. Jijil repeatedly risked life and limb, including the real probability of capture by terrorist and insurgents alike, to literally save OFW lives there," the petition stated. Jimenez was a member of the Philippine negotiating team that worked for the release of OFWs Angelo Dela Cruz and Robert Tarongoy who were kidnapped by insurgents in Iraq.
"He is the right person for the position. He deserved to become the OWWA Administrator. He is dedicated, one of my heroes during my captivity in Iraq. I trusted him in the account of my life. He always encourages and helps people. He is an exemplary guy, brilliant and good. The man I can count on," commented Tarongoy in the online petition. Tarongoy who's one of the signatories is now working in Doha, Qatar. He has remained grateful to Jimenez whograbbed him bodily towards final freedom from his Iraqi captors. "As Labor Attache' to Kuwait, Jimenez headed the Task Force Lipat - Kuwait and organised the community and led the initiative to secure our lives and livelihood during the 2003 US-led invasion in Iraq. Jimenez worked hand in hand with the Philippine Middle East Preparedness Team in keeping the OFWs out of harm's way," stated the petition.
Jimenez was awarded a Presidential Citation on July 19, 2005 by President Arroyo as member of the special team that negotiated the successful release of Filipino hostage Robert Tarongoy in Baghdad, Iraq in June 2005. He received his second Presidential Citation on November 15, 2006 for his vital contributions to the success of the government's operations in evacuating and safeguarding the lives of Filipinos in Lebanon during the Israeli invasion in 2006. Jimenez, 42, an alumnus of the University of the Philippines is a member of the Philippine Bar who began serving in government at an early age, focusing and specializing in the past 12 years in labour and employment matters, particularly in resolving issues involving strikes and labour unrest, the deployment of overseas Filipino workers ("OFWs") and delivery of services to OFWs in conflict-ridden and culturally-diverse countries such as Iraq, Kuwait, Lebanon and Tokyo.
"For us, OWWA, despite its many imperfections, is still critical to our welfare and protection. We believe that it should be headed by a person who already knows the job, who would be able to run it as soon as he or she is seated. We believe that, with due respect for others that your Excellency may consider, that person is Atty. Jimenez. We know that he will always place the interest of OFWs before his own and acquit himself with passion, dedication, honesty and competence," stated the OFWs in their petition to President Arroyo.
By Michelle Fe Santiago
© Arab Times 2008
