RIYADH: A three-member delegation of Philippine congressmen is to arrive in the Kingdom on Wednesday to look into allegations of abuse against Overseas Filipino Workers and ascertain what the Philippine Embassy in Riyadh and the Consulate General in Jeddah have been doing to alleviate their plight.

The allegations have been made by advocacy groups like Gabriela and Migrante International.

Philippine Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Antonio Villamor said the delegation includes Congressmen Rufus Rodriguez, Carlos Padilla and Luzviminda Ilagan from the House of Representatives Committee on Migrant Workers Affairs.

“The delegation, which is going around the region to look into allegations of abuse against OFWs, will probably ask us what we have done to protect OFWs whose cases are being heard. But we have been doing our best. In fact, we have gone the extra mile, if I may say so, to be of help to our hapless OFWs,” Villamor said.

He admitted there were instances when they had fallen short of expectations. “However, we can’t be faulted because of insurmountable constraints. If an OFW has to appear in court, notice is sent to us a day or two before the hearing. It would be next to impossible to send a representative to assist the OFW, especially if the hearing is far from Riyadh? Moreover, before we could send a representative, we also need to secure permission from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs,” Villamor said.

He added that the alleged cases of abuse have been recurring and that this would continue because of the large concentration of OFWs in the Kingdom.

John Leonard Monterona, Migrante International coordinator for the Middle East, expressed disappointment regarding the congressmen’s visit.

He said his group was expecting to have a congressional hearing in the Philippines regarding the abuse issue. “But from what I know, the meeting on Nov. 5 is only a closed-door consultation by the three congressmen with the embassy staff, POLO-OWWA and distressed workers,” he said.