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The Pen siege: Pinoys in Saudi share mixed views


Last Thursday’s standoff at the Peninsula Manila hotel in Makati City drew mixed reactions from Filipino workers in Saudi Arabia. Ciriaco Espino, a coordinator for Petro Rabigh, said the rebellious act by a group of soldiers led by Brig. Gen. Danilo Lim and Senator Antonio Trillanes IV was yet another dark spot in the Philippines’ image before the international community. “Nakalulungkot din, sana hindi na nangyari ‘yon," Espino said. Eric delos Reyes, agrees with Espino. “Mali ang ginawa nila. Ibinoto na siya ng mga tao. Ano pa ba ang gusto n’ya? Hindi napapanahon ang kanyang ginawa sa ngayon kaya mali talaga," said Delos Reyes, who works with Saudi Signs. In contrast, Alejandro Domingo, a web developer at Iview Communications, wished the attempt to unseat the Arroyo administration prospered. He said a change in government could affect the peso-dollar exchange rate in favor of the overseas Filipino workers. “Si Trillanes talaga ang kailangan ng bayan dahil nasa kanya lahat ng katotohanan at kaya n’ya ipalabas ang katotohanan. Para kami sa kanya," said Domingo. Elvie Sanches, a clerk at Alhada Hospital in Taif, said it was good that Trillanes and his group were able to say what they felt. She was hoping the incident would drive the dollar up to benefit overseas Filipinos like her. But Noel Bitang, an engineer in Dammam, did not agree in the manner the detained soldiers carried out their call for President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo to step down. He said the group may have the interest of the people in fighting for reforms, but he should have done it the right way. Froilan Venturina, an operations engineer in Ras Tanura, believed that the Filipino people, particularly the OFWs, were tired of destabilization moves. “There is due process of law. Trillanes should have fought for his right in court. Why walk out and plead for help with the poor and helpless people?" he said when interviewed by Jeddah-based Arab News. Ransam Pirote, an engineer at Aramco in Dhahran, said that the group of Trillanes showed they were really not committed to peace in the country. Christopher Castor, who works with Al Jumairah Marketing, said he didn’t care anymore about political developments in the country. “Nakakasawa na kasi. Hopeless na ang Pilipinas. Unmanageable na. Kung pwede nga lang i-give up ko na ang pagiging Filipino ko," he said out of desperation. Eli Sarmiento, an employee at the National Commercial Bank, said what Trillanes and his group did must be condemned. “He has the mandate of the people and he must uphold the rule of law," he pointed out. Arab News reported on Monday that Philippine Ambassador Antonio Villamor has reminded Filipinos in Saudi Arabia of the need to unite in view of last Thursday’s threat to democracy. “Before we achieve unity and harmony with others, we should have harmony within ourselves and our families," the online news site quoted Villamor as having said in a speech during the Filipino Community Day organized by the Saudi Arabia Hiligaynon, Inc. (SAHI) at the Prince Mohammed Bin Fahd Amusement Park in Dammam. Villamor said the latest failed rebellion was another taint on the good image of Filipinos worldwide. “What is hurting our feelings is that we Filipinos in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia are trying to unite, but at home so me of our leaders, like Senator Trillanes, are making trouble" Villamor said. “I cannot see the logic of what he and his group did last Thursday. Probably he has his reasons but I don’t think that is the right way of showing that he is discontented in the government," he said. Villamor said that Trillanes should have thought of the millions of Filipinos working overseas to help their families and the Philippine economy as a whole, only to find their hard work undone by a senseless uprising. “Those who are in the Philippines are destroying the goal of OFWs of showing to the world how good and united we are, particularly here in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia," Villamor said. - with reports from Ronaldo Concha, GMANews.TV

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