Senatorial candidate Herbert “Bistek” Bautista urged the government to launch an investigation into reports that sick Filipino domestic helpers are being driven out of their employers’ homes and left to fend for themselves in Hong Kong.
“This is alarming for many of the families of our countrymen in Hong Kong,” said Bautista, who advocated for workers’ protection and welfare as a former mayor of Quezon City for three terms.
“The worst thing is the agony of their families back home,” he added.
The Philippine consulate in Hong Kong has reported that some employers have fired OFWs who tested positive for COVID-19 and drove them out of their houses.
As a rule, foreign domestic helpers are required to stay at the homes of their employers in Hong Kong.
“Hundreds of families of those working in Hong Kong are worried for sure,” said Bautista, who is running for senator under the ticket of presidential aspirant Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos and his running mate, Sara Duterte-Carpio.
Consul General Raly Tejada earlier said the Philippine government would run after “heartless” employers who send sick Filipino domestic workers to the streets after terminating their contracts.
Tejada also said at least 10 Filipinos, who had been driven into the streets of Hong Kong, had been rescued by Philippine consulate officials.
Bautista said some reports narrate a different situation.
“But the important thing is to protect our countrymen, whatever the situation is,” he said.
“The first thing to do, however, is to know the truth, what’s really happening,” Bautista added.