The following is an open letter penned by Ofelia A. Laguardia addressed to Dept. of Migrant Workers Sec. Susan Ople pleading for her help in the case her husband, Manual P. Laguardia Sr., which has now dragged on for three years.
“WHEN THE Dept. of Migrant Workers was created by the Marcos Administration, my husband and I—among the multitude of Filipinos beset with problems overseas—saw a glimmer of light at the end of the tunnel.
“My husband, Manual P. Laguardia Sr. worked in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia as civil engineer for 37 years and yours truly as educator for 20 years. We both retired three years ago and I was able to return to our beloved Philippines; but my poor husband was left behind wallowing in sickness and despair because his passport was confiscated by his employer in Saudi Arabia for reasons we could not fully comprehend.
“Our separation led us both to fits of depression and helplessness as since then, we were both unemployed and that our savings was being depleted faster than we anticipated.
“Our woes stemmed from an alleged money laundering case imposed on my husband. We have submitted all the pertinent papers to disprove it as my husband is a man of upright character. Sometime in 2010, I was offered by Prince Bader Bin Khalid Al Saud to manage the Bader International School. At the outset, he provided us an NCB Al Ahli Bank Code Generator to be used in paying bills of the school. Later on, however, the devise expired so we asked him to make a renewal, which did not come despite constant follow-up. When bills started to mount, the school's Parent-Teachers Association (PTA) composed mostly of Filipinos passed a resolution to use the account of my husband who is a bonafide member.
“Funds of the school were then deposited to his name which in turn were used to procure books, to finance the "IQAMA" and appurtenant expenses of teachers like labor cards and medical insurances, likewise to pay the goods, services, utilities and other incidentals which are all properly accounted for.
“Sadly, this set-up arranged for convenience of all concerned including Prince Bader backfired. He was questioned of dispensing money not commensurate to his earnings. We were quick in providing pertinent papers to authorities for his defense. We submitted affidavits of resource persons and from bill recipients. Even the Prince himself issued a certification attesting to the legitimacy of the transactions.
“It has been three years since then but the case dragged on. The assistance we asked from the Philippine Consulate did not come fully as expected. Worse, the lawyer they sent to assist quit at midstream. Every time we followed-up on the case for expediency, we were told the same thing, ‘to wait as the case is still being investigated’.
“We urgently appeal for the intercession of the newly designated Secretary of Migrant Workers, Susan Ople. It is very necessary for my husband to come home because he is at the brink of breaking down. His health is fast deteriorating due to his stage 3 prostate cancer which necessitated him to undergo orchidectomy. He is also afflicted with chronic diabetes and gets four injections of insulin every day. Both of us are losing weight due to anxiety and lack of sleep. My condition is equally worse having been recently subjected to an open-heart surgery with mitral valve replacement (MVP). We really need to be together again.
“MADAM SECRETARY, I honestly believe we deserve all the help we could get from the government. We worked hard half of our lives in a country far from our family earning dollars to spruce up our economy and we take pride in being branded living heroes of our times. We appeal for your mercy and compassion. You are our ultimate hope to bail us of this predicament.”
(SGD )OFELIA A. LAGUARDIA
San Carlos City, Pangasinan