For taking his work seriously and engaging in a scuffle with a Syrian national who took an item from the convenience store without paying, 26-year-old overseas Filipino worker Ronald Jumamoy landed in the hospital and became comatose for days. He never recovered and died last February 12.
It took more than two months for the remains of Ronald—an OFW who worked in a convenience store in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia—to be repatriated, thanks in large part to the combined efforts of ACTS-OFW party list nominee John Bertiz, the Saudi-based organization Patnubay sa mga Manggagawang Pilipino, and the Blas F. Ople Policy Center (headed by senatorial candidate Susan “Toots” Ople).
Last Friday, Ronald’s remains arrived in Manila and was flown to Francisco Bangoy International Airport in Davao City. A native of Montevista in Compostela Valley, Ronald will soon be finally laid to rest, but the search for justice continues. His grieving family has asked the Department of Foreign Affairs to represent them in pursuing justice in Saudi courts for Ronald’s murder
“We have been waiting for months for his remains to arrive so that we can pay our last respect and bestow a decent burial in our hometown,” Anne Jumamoy, Ronald’s sister, said in a statement issued through the ACTS-OFW party list group.
“We have long suffered in pain and now, we hope that justice shall be served according to the laws and practices in Saudi Arabia so that we can pick up the bits and pieces of our lives that have been shattered by his death,” she added.
Under the Shariah law, there are two aspects of a murder case: the public action where the punishment is meted for offense against the law or religion, and the private rights of actions for compensation for the victim or the victim’s family.
“We are still thinking if we will demand for blood money. What is important now is an early court decision for qisas [or beheading] or should we decide to forgive in exchange of diyat [or blood money],” Anne shared, adding that what they need is to prepare a special power of attorney for the Philippine embassy to proceed with private rights of action.
“We are thankful that our fellow OFW Ronald will be finally laid to rest. Our prayers and thoughts are with his family during these trying times, but we want to assure them that we will help them seek justice for his death,” Bertiz said.
Bertiz assured that he, along with Patnubay and the Ople Center, will continue to assist the Jumamoy family until all money claims, including insurance, burial and death benefits, have been completed by concerned parties.
Kapatid employees’ union happy with new CBA
Militant labor groups observed Labor Day last Sunday with the usual red-bannered protests, but at least one employee union celebrated because it successfully concluded the negotiations for a new collective bargaining agreement much earlier. We’re referring to the ABC employees’ Union (ABCEU) that sealed an agreement with the management of TV5 during a ceremonial signing at the office of Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz.
The new package includes salary increases, union leave benefits and other concessions like an educational loan assistance and additional rice subsidy. The management of TV5, led by its president and CEO Emmanuel Lorenzana, also agreed to discuss performance-based salary increases.
The negotiations, which began in September last year, became almost derailed after a deadlock this February. According to ABCEU president Vladimir Martin, the package is substantial and the union is “happy about it.” While they may have wanted more from the new economic package, the union leader said what they got was better than the last time. “The company can only give so much at the present,” he said, but promised that the union would push for the other concessions they asked for in the next CBA negotiations.
The financial status of TV5 has been going through challenges but the network tried to strike a balance between ensuring company viability while still providing acceptable increases to the salary of workers.
For his part, Lorenzana thanked the management in resolving the issue and praised the union for responding to the call for unity within the ranks during the difficult moments in the negotiations. The show of cooperation will help the management and employees achieve the mutual goal of ensuring the viability and efficiency of the Kapatid network, Lorenzana said.
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