GABRIELA USA is calling on our members, community allies, supporters and friends to take action on Wednesday, May 21st, to oppose the release of recruitment agency owner and human trafficker, Isidro Rodriguez, and the incompetency of the Philippine government to serve their compatriots with justice and dignity. We are writing to ask you for your continued support for our Justice for Filipino Trafficked Teachers Campaign.
Background
Since 2003, batches of teachers have been illegally recruited and trafficked to the U.S. by Philippines-based recruitment agency owner Isidro Rodriguez. Case complaints have been reported to Philippine Embassy officials in the past as well as to the Philippine Overseas Employment Agency (POEA). However, the response from the Philippine government has been inadequate and unsatisfactory.
GABRIELA USA received confirmation from Migrante International that Isidro Rodriguez was released on May 8, 2014 due to the settlement of some teachers from the first batch, but this disregards a significantly larger number of teachers pursuing cases against him. Isidro Rodriguez was expected to appear before the Department of Justice on May 13th in the hearing of the trafficking case against him but failed to to show up.
Our message
-
Prosecute Isidro Rodriguez and Investigate Philippine Government Institutions NOW!
-
Just reparations for trafficked victims! Cancel teachers’ high interest loans NOW!
-
Hold accountable loan sharks in cahoots with Isidro Rodriguez!
-
Immigration Relief for trafficked victims in the U.S.!
Join the Filipino trafficked teachers to demand justice for themselves and all other victims of human trafficking by taking the following actions:
Phone and fax barrage to the Office of Ambassador Jose Cuisia and the consulate/embassy responsible for your area of residence.
Office of the Ambassador (ambassador@philippinesusa.org)
H.E. Ambassador Jose L. Cuisia, Jr.
Tel: 202-467-9366
Fax: 202-467-9417
AND
The consulate/embassy responsible for your area of residence: http://www.philippineembassy-usa.org/philippines-dc/consulate-finder-dc/
SAMPLE MESSAGE:
“My name is __________, and I am (concerned/appalled/outraged) at the recent release of Isidro Rodriguez. He has committed crimes against hundreds of Filipinos and it is unacceptable that he has been irresponsibly released by Philippine authorities. I urge you to take action. You can do this by making a strong recommendation to the Philippine Department of Justice and to the National Bureau of Investigation to actively search for and re-arrest Rodriguez. Please also make a recommendation for a full investigation on the POEA for wrongfully licensing predatory recruitment agencies such as those owned and operated by Rodriguez. Lastly, with many of Isidro’s victims living in fear and in the shadows, please communicate with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to make an endorsement for immigration relief for the victims of Isidro. Thank you, and I look forward to your follow-up on this very important matter.”
Social Media Blitz to widely propagate the international manhunt on Isidro Rodriguez!
Take photos of yourselves holding the “WANTED” picture with the calls below and post it and share on social media (FaceBook, Instagram, Twitter, etc.) with hash tags: #ProsecuteIsidro, #Justice4FilipinoTeachers, #gabrielausa
TWITTER INSTRUCTIONS
1) Follow the Justice for Filipino Trafficked Teachers Twitter account @j4FILteachers for updates, details and live tweets on May 21st.
2) Tweet your support and demand justice for the teachers!
Re-arrest and Prosecute Isidro Rodriguez NOW! #ProsecuteIsidro #justice4filipinoteachers #gabrielausa
Investigate Philippine institutions now! #ProsecuteIsidro #justice4filipinoteachers #gabrielausa
Just reparations for trafficked teachers! Cancel teachers’ high interest loans now! #ProsecuteIsidro #justice4filipinoteachers #gabrielausa
Immigration relief to trafficked victims now! #ProsecuteIsidro #justice4filipinoteachers #gabrielausa
Hoy @noynoyaquino! Nasaan ang katarungan? #ProsecuteIsidro #justice4filipinoteachers #gabrielausa
3) Tweet your own message/outrage and tag the following people and/or institutions to amplify our demands:
@PhilippinesUSA – Philippine Embassy of the United States of America
@noynoyaquino – Pres. Noynoy Aquino
@govph – Official Gazette of the Philippines
@poeanews – Philippine Overseas Employment Agency
@dojph – Department of Justice
@iacatnews – Inter-agency Council Against Trafficking
For more information, contact GABRIELA USA at gabrielawomen@gmail.com
###