Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. Orders Investigation into Treatment of OFWs in Bahrain

Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has initiated an investigation following the release of a viral video depicting Anthony Allermo, an employee of the Migrant Workers Office in Bahrain, reprimanding overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) who were seeking financial assistance outside the Philippine embassy. The incident occurred amid escalating tensions due to the Iran war, which has left many OFWs stranded in Bahrain. In the video, Allermo is seen dismissively telling the workers, “There’s nothing, it’s that simple … This is not allowed,” while gesturing for them to disperse.

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In response to the video, Marcos expressed his displeasure, stating he was "angry on behalf of our OFWs" due to the mistreatment they faced from public servants. Presidential press officer Claire Castro confirmed that Marcos has instructed Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac to investigate the incident. Cacdac noted that the embassy had paused financial aid distribution to comply with a Bahraini government ban on public gatherings, which the OFWs claimed they were not informed about. To prevent future incidents, Cacdac announced that financial aid would now be distributed digitally.

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The incident has drawn significant criticism regarding the conduct of public servants. Castro emphasized that those in public service should not abuse their power, stating, “A public servant should not abuse their power. There is no excuse for arrogance or disregarding our fellow citizens.” This sentiment reflects broader concerns about the treatment of OFWs, who number approximately 2.5 million in the Middle East.

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As the situation unfolds, the Philippine government has been actively providing support to OFWs affected by the crisis. Cacdac reported that over 4,600 OFWs have received various forms of assistance, including temporary accommodation and financial aid. The Overseas Workers Welfare Administration has estimated that repatriating all OFWs would cost around 3.67 billion pesos (approximately US$61.5 million), significantly exceeding its emergency repatriation fund of 1.5 billion pesos.

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Marcos announced plans for charter flights to facilitate the repatriation of OFWs, stating that the government is arranging these flights as conditions improve. Since the previous Thursday, more than 600 Filipinos, including around 400 OFWs, have returned to the Philippines, with the first batch of government-chartered flights arriving in Manila.

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• “The president was not pleased with this. He became angry on behalf of our OFWs because of the mistreatment by some public servants,” — Claire Castro, Presidential Press Officer

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• “A public servant should not abuse their power. There is no excuse for arrogance or disregarding our fellow citizens.” — Claire Castro, Presidential Press Officer

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The ongoing investigation into Allermo's conduct is expected to lead to administrative actions, with Cacdac indicating that Allermo may face termination. The Philippine government continues to monitor the situation of OFWs in Bahrain and is committed to providing necessary support and repatriation efforts as the regional crisis evolves.

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