OFWs in Middle East join protest vs Agra decision
Even Filipinos in the Middle East are not happy with Justice Secretary Alberto Agra's controversial decision to clear two Ampatuan clan members from murder charges stemming from the Nov. 23 Maguindanao massacre. Some 1,800 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in the Middle East staged an in-door protest last Thursday against Agraâs decision, the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines reported Friday. âThe DOJ is under Malacañangâs wing; what would you want us to think? We believe that Agraâs decision has (President) Gloria (Macapagal-Arroyo)âs nod," Migrante Middle East coordinator John Leonard Monterona said in an article on the CBCP news site. Agra gained flak for clearing Autonomous Region for Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) Governor Zaldy Ampatuan and Akmad Ampatuan from the Nov. 23 massacre. Monterona also said they launched a âtext barrage" to their families in the Philippines to join protests in Mendiola on Friday. âThis is one way of showing our solidarity to the families of the Ampatuan massacre victims, and to affirm our commitment for justice and peace to prevail in the Philippines," Monterona said. â LBG, GMANews.TV