From the BoondocKs: Jocelyn Dulnuan: Fund Raising Updates
Videos on the Service for Jocelyn Dulnuan
http://socialjustice4workers.blogspot.com
Monday, October 29, 2007
Sunday, October 14, 2007
Jocelyn Dulnuan's spirit will not rest
Jocelyn Dulnuan and the Filipino Community Cannot Rest Until There Is Justice
Jocelyn Dulnuan Support Committee
October 13, 2007
Jocelyn Dulnuan, 27 years old, of Namulditan, Hingyon, Ifugao, the Philippines was found dead on Oct. 1, 2007 in the house located at 2450 Doulton Place, Mississauga where she worked as a live-in caregiver. Jocelyn had arrived in Canada last November through the Live-in Caregiver Program of the Canadian Government. Peel regional police are investigating her death and treating it as a murder case.
Twelve days have already passed since the discovery of her body. Press reports as of today are conflicting over whether the police have already finished their investigation. The police for its part have been very tight-lipped about the case. We hope this has only been so as not to jeopardise the investigation.
Jocelyn Dulnuan’s murder raises important issues of public safety, equality and justice for the Filipino community. Given the recent problems regarding the treatment of Filipinos by certain police departments in certain jurisdictions in Canada, the fear exists in the minds of many in the Filipino community that Dulnuan’s murder may not get the serious and prompt treatment it requires. We need to know that the police is taking this case seriously and not doing a slipshod job because Jocelyn is a Filipino, and a migrant worker.
Filipino migrant workers are a significant part of our community of 100 thousand plus in the greater Toronto area and contribute greatly directly to the Canadian economy through their work, the products they buy, and the taxes they pay without availing of Canadian public services. Indirectly as well, the work of Filipino migrant workers enables Canadians themselves to contribute greater to the economy. Filipinos, and especially Filipino migrant workers deserve equal rights, safety and justice.
The proper institution to ensure that justice is pursued and the muderer(s) of Jocelyn punished is the Philippine consulate. It is the role of the Philippine consulate to protect the rights of Filipinos in Toronto and surrounding regions. At the very minimum the Philippine consulate has the duty both to pull every diplomatic lever it can to ensure that justice is thoroughly pursued by the local Canadian authorities while keeping the Filipino community properly informed of its efforts. We note that Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs spokesman Claro Cristobal said that Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto Romulo has instructed Alejandro Mosquera “to provide full cooperation for bringing anyone responsible for the crime to justice….” Given the sorry history with other cases of Filipino migrants that have come to grief and the initial response of the local consulate and labour attaché to our approach for help, we can only hope that these instructions are not mere public relations exercises. If any harm comes to a Filipino abroad, will the consulate just leave that person behind and hush matters?
Jocelyn Dulnuan would be alive now if the Philippine government had been able to provide the employment back home sorely sought after by so many Filipinos rather than relying on sending people abroad for remittances. We hope that Jocelyn is not a sacrifice to this policy of exporting Filipino workers.
The Jocelyn Dulnuan Support Committee is composed the following Migrante-Ontario organizations: Damayan Migrant Resource and Education Centre, Philippine Advocacy Through Arts in Canada (PATAC), SIKLAB-Ontario, Ugnayan ng Kabataang Pilipino sa Canada-Toronto (UKPC-TO), and United Filipinos for Nationalism and Democracy (UFiND); the following organizations: Asosacion Negrense, AWARE/Gabay, Community Alliance for Social Justice (CASJ), Ifugao Association, Philippine Independence Day Council (PIDC), Philippine Network for Justice and Peace, and the Santaginian Association of Ontario; Fr. Ariel Dumaran of San Lorenzo Ruiz Parish and members of Jocelyn Dulnuan’s extended family and friends.
FOR REFERENCE: Maria Sol Pajadura. Cell: 647-448-7030. Email: siklab_ontario@yahoo.ca.
Jocelyn Dulnuan Support Committee
October 13, 2007
Jocelyn Dulnuan, 27 years old, of Namulditan, Hingyon, Ifugao, the Philippines was found dead on Oct. 1, 2007 in the house located at 2450 Doulton Place, Mississauga where she worked as a live-in caregiver. Jocelyn had arrived in Canada last November through the Live-in Caregiver Program of the Canadian Government. Peel regional police are investigating her death and treating it as a murder case.
Twelve days have already passed since the discovery of her body. Press reports as of today are conflicting over whether the police have already finished their investigation. The police for its part have been very tight-lipped about the case. We hope this has only been so as not to jeopardise the investigation.
Jocelyn Dulnuan’s murder raises important issues of public safety, equality and justice for the Filipino community. Given the recent problems regarding the treatment of Filipinos by certain police departments in certain jurisdictions in Canada, the fear exists in the minds of many in the Filipino community that Dulnuan’s murder may not get the serious and prompt treatment it requires. We need to know that the police is taking this case seriously and not doing a slipshod job because Jocelyn is a Filipino, and a migrant worker.
Filipino migrant workers are a significant part of our community of 100 thousand plus in the greater Toronto area and contribute greatly directly to the Canadian economy through their work, the products they buy, and the taxes they pay without availing of Canadian public services. Indirectly as well, the work of Filipino migrant workers enables Canadians themselves to contribute greater to the economy. Filipinos, and especially Filipino migrant workers deserve equal rights, safety and justice.
The proper institution to ensure that justice is pursued and the muderer(s) of Jocelyn punished is the Philippine consulate. It is the role of the Philippine consulate to protect the rights of Filipinos in Toronto and surrounding regions. At the very minimum the Philippine consulate has the duty both to pull every diplomatic lever it can to ensure that justice is thoroughly pursued by the local Canadian authorities while keeping the Filipino community properly informed of its efforts. We note that Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs spokesman Claro Cristobal said that Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto Romulo has instructed Alejandro Mosquera “to provide full cooperation for bringing anyone responsible for the crime to justice….” Given the sorry history with other cases of Filipino migrants that have come to grief and the initial response of the local consulate and labour attaché to our approach for help, we can only hope that these instructions are not mere public relations exercises. If any harm comes to a Filipino abroad, will the consulate just leave that person behind and hush matters?
Jocelyn Dulnuan would be alive now if the Philippine government had been able to provide the employment back home sorely sought after by so many Filipinos rather than relying on sending people abroad for remittances. We hope that Jocelyn is not a sacrifice to this policy of exporting Filipino workers.
The Jocelyn Dulnuan Support Committee is composed the following Migrante-Ontario organizations: Damayan Migrant Resource and Education Centre, Philippine Advocacy Through Arts in Canada (PATAC), SIKLAB-Ontario, Ugnayan ng Kabataang Pilipino sa Canada-Toronto (UKPC-TO), and United Filipinos for Nationalism and Democracy (UFiND); the following organizations: Asosacion Negrense, AWARE/Gabay, Community Alliance for Social Justice (CASJ), Ifugao Association, Philippine Independence Day Council (PIDC), Philippine Network for Justice and Peace, and the Santaginian Association of Ontario; Fr. Ariel Dumaran of San Lorenzo Ruiz Parish and members of Jocelyn Dulnuan’s extended family and friends.
FOR REFERENCE: Maria Sol Pajadura. Cell: 647-448-7030. Email: siklab_ontario@yahoo.ca.
Thursday, October 11, 2007
Ricky Esguerra Fact Finding Email
You are all probably aware that a Filipina was murdered in a rich mansion where she worked as "housekeeper" / caregiver in Mississauga. Our group in the Migrante network has been in touch with family here and in Hongkong (mother works there as domestic worker). We are forming a Jocelyn Dulnuan support committee with other organizations - the Community Alliance for Social Justice (CASJ), the Philippine Independence Day Committee (PIDC), Siklab-Ontario, the Ifugao organization, etc. and are meeting this afternoon for this.
Will AWARE/Gabay be part of this endeavour?
Some news items:
http://www.thestar.com/News/article/263137 Maid found dead in mansionPolice say they have reason to suspect foul play after housekeeperfound dead in MississaugaOct 03, 2007 04:30 AM Bob Mitchell Staff ReporterA 27-year-old woman working as a maid was found dead Monday night in a Mississauga mansion. Police won't say where the woman's body was found or how she died, butinvestigative sources said the housekeeper was found dead in her livingquarters in the basement of the massive two-storey home on Doulton Place."At approximately 5 p.m., a call was placed by a homeowner indicatingthat they had come home and discovered a 27-year-old female deceased intheir home," said Const. Adam Minnion. He said police have reason to suspect foul play, "given the circumstances surrounding the death." Neighbours said a renovation truck had been seen at the home earlier inthe day. Several also said they were told a woman called police after finding the body. They believed the caller's husband was out of town onbusiness."No arrests have been made. There are no suspects. Upon speaking withthe inspector of homicide there have been no names or suggestions of persons (put forward)," Minnion said. "It's a really large crime scene and we're still trying to analyze allof it."Police expect to release the victim's name sometime today once her next of kin have been notified. A neighbour said the housekeeper wasoriginally from the Philippines.The home, situated at the end of a cul-de-sac, was cordoned off withyellow police tape throughout the day. Two large carved lions stood in front of the gated stucco home, as if guarding the entrance."The entire home is considered a crime scene," said Peel homicide Insp.Norm English.Parked in the home's expansive driveway, in front of the pillared entrance to the front doors, were a Nissan Infiniti and a BMW SUV.Police aren't releasing any details about the homeowners, includingtheir names. But according to various sources, Dr. Jaya Chanchlani, her husband, Vasu, and children Tina, Soni and Neil live at the home, which was boughtnew in 2004.Neighbours said the husband worked in an import-export business. However, they also described the family as being "very private" and said they were rarely seen."I haven't seen them in ages," said Carolyn Milton, who lives next doorto the crime scene. "I don't know if they've even been home. Even thekids." Milton and neighbour Karen Stewart said finding out that someone hadbeen killed so close to their homes was extremely upsetting, even thoughpolice told them they shouldn't be alarmed."They said they weren't looking for an intruder," Milton said. "It's still shocking. It's hard not to be alarmed when you're right next door."Numerous police cars arrived at the scene soon after the discovery ofthe slain woman, neighbours said.Police spent several hours talking to residents and are still interviewing people who were in the area. Several nearby homes were alsoundergoing renovations at the time of the slaying."I was home all day," Milton said. "I never heard anything."Milton said she didn't know the housekeeper and had no idea when shesaw her last.With files from Robyn Doolittle* * * * *http://www.canada.com/nationalpost/news/story.html?id=6dbda404-2e45-4c91-9246-c189da4e82f0&k=71572Maid found dead at estateProfessional couple are private, neighbours say Natalie Alcoba, National Post, with files from Zosia Bielski and KaronLiuPublished: Wednesday, October 03, 2007MISSISSAUGA - A palatial mansion overlooking the Credit River is thescene of a murder investigation after a maid was found dead inside the home.Police have not revealed how the 27-year-old Filipina woman died, butshe was discovered late on Monday afternoon by one of the homeowners.Constable Samantha Nulle, with Peel Regional Police, described the incident as "isolated" and said the public's safety had not been at risk.Police did not release the name of the deceased yesterday as they workedto notify her family. There was no information about a possible suspect.View Larger ImagePolice investigate a crime scene in a wealthy area of Mississaugayesterday. Police have not released the name of a woman identified as thehousekeeper.Peter J. Thompson, National Post Email to a friendPrinter friendlyFont:****According to neighbours, the stucco house at the end ofDoulton Place has been occupied for five years by a South Asian couple, oneof whom is a doctor and the other in the import-export business. With its impeccably manicured grounds and prime location overlooking aravine, the house is arguably the finest on the street. Some estimateit could sell for around $5-million; one contractor pegged it as high $15-million.Its expansive grounds are surrounded by an ornate steel fence, andguarded by a pair of stone lions, about four feet high, that are baringtheir teeth. Yesterday, a BMW SUV and an Infiniti were parked in the driveway. The vehicles are registered to a Vasdev Chanchlani and JayshreeChanchlani.Dr. Jaya Chanchlani has a medical practice in a Brampton mall nearKennedy Road and Bovaird Drive. Staff at her office said the doctor was not at work yesterday."I'm not at [sic] the right to talk about anything right now," anemployee said over the phone.According to online records, the Chanchlanis, who have three childrennamed Tina, Sonia and Neil, donated more than a $1,000 to the TrilliumHealth Centre foundation last year.Dr. Chanchlani did not pick up her cellphone or return messagesyesterday."They 're very private people," said Carolyn Milton, who lives next door to the Chanchlanis.She said the couple was the original owners of the house, which wasbuilt about five years ago. She said she had not seen the family "forages"."We don't know what happened or why it happened," a visibly distraught Ms. Milton said to a pack of reporters on her driveway."They are very private people," her daughter, Karen Stewart,reiterated. "We really didn't know the maid."Ms. Milton said she believed the woman was from the Phillipines. She said police officers came to her house on Monday around supper timeand something about "the way they were talking" left her with theimpression that they might have a suspect in mind."[They said] not to be alarmed, it wasn't an intruder." When asked about how she felt about what had happened, Ms. Miltonreplied: "A little shocked, OK. This is next door."Const. Nulle said the dead woman, who she described as the housekeeper,was found inside the house, but would not specify the preciselocation. She said investigators consider "the entire residence to be a crimescene until proven otherwise" and said forensic officers would continue the painstaking process of collecting evidence.Const. Nulle would not say which homeowner had discovered the body, butone man who lives on the street said he was told by officers that itwas the wife who had found the woman when she came home. Police have not said if anyone else was in the house at the time of the murder.Adrian, whose father purchased a home a few doors down from the crimescene, said strangers drive along Doulton Place, in the Mississauga Roadand Dundas Street area, all the time. "It's like sight seeing," hesaid. "You never know who is coming or going."(c) National Post 2007
OWWA probes death of Filipina worker in
Canada
By Vincent Cabreza Northern Luzon BureauLast updated 06:02pm (Mla time) 10/03/2007
BAGUIO CITY, Philippines -- The Overseas Workers Welfare Office here has asked the Philippine embassy in Canada to check on Internet reports alleging "foul play" in the death of a 27-year-old Filipina from Hingyon, Ifugao, who worked as a maid in Mississauga City.
Anthony Basil, Cordillera case officer of the Overseas Workers Welfare Office here, said they asked the embassy officials to look into the mysterious death of a certain Jocelyn, said to be a resident of the village of Namulditan in Hingyon.
Ifugao officials have yet to receive any information on the woman's death.
The administrator of www.igorotblogger.blogspot.com posted some of the first reports about "our kailiyan's (community member) death."
The reports said the woman's cousin, a Toronto-based worker, had identified Jocelyn's body. The cousin sent e-mail messages to her Ifugao relatives to confirm Jocelyn's murder.
According to the reports, the police in Mississauga "believed the victim died as a result of foul play."
Will AWARE/Gabay be part of this endeavour?
Some news items:
http://www.thestar.com/News/article/263137 Maid found dead in mansionPolice say they have reason to suspect foul play after housekeeperfound dead in MississaugaOct 03, 2007 04:30 AM Bob Mitchell Staff ReporterA 27-year-old woman working as a maid was found dead Monday night in a Mississauga mansion. Police won't say where the woman's body was found or how she died, butinvestigative sources said the housekeeper was found dead in her livingquarters in the basement of the massive two-storey home on Doulton Place."At approximately 5 p.m., a call was placed by a homeowner indicatingthat they had come home and discovered a 27-year-old female deceased intheir home," said Const. Adam Minnion. He said police have reason to suspect foul play, "given the circumstances surrounding the death." Neighbours said a renovation truck had been seen at the home earlier inthe day. Several also said they were told a woman called police after finding the body. They believed the caller's husband was out of town onbusiness."No arrests have been made. There are no suspects. Upon speaking withthe inspector of homicide there have been no names or suggestions of persons (put forward)," Minnion said. "It's a really large crime scene and we're still trying to analyze allof it."Police expect to release the victim's name sometime today once her next of kin have been notified. A neighbour said the housekeeper wasoriginally from the Philippines.The home, situated at the end of a cul-de-sac, was cordoned off withyellow police tape throughout the day. Two large carved lions stood in front of the gated stucco home, as if guarding the entrance."The entire home is considered a crime scene," said Peel homicide Insp.Norm English.Parked in the home's expansive driveway, in front of the pillared entrance to the front doors, were a Nissan Infiniti and a BMW SUV.Police aren't releasing any details about the homeowners, includingtheir names. But according to various sources, Dr. Jaya Chanchlani, her husband, Vasu, and children Tina, Soni and Neil live at the home, which was boughtnew in 2004.Neighbours said the husband worked in an import-export business. However, they also described the family as being "very private" and said they were rarely seen."I haven't seen them in ages," said Carolyn Milton, who lives next doorto the crime scene. "I don't know if they've even been home. Even thekids." Milton and neighbour Karen Stewart said finding out that someone hadbeen killed so close to their homes was extremely upsetting, even thoughpolice told them they shouldn't be alarmed."They said they weren't looking for an intruder," Milton said. "It's still shocking. It's hard not to be alarmed when you're right next door."Numerous police cars arrived at the scene soon after the discovery ofthe slain woman, neighbours said.Police spent several hours talking to residents and are still interviewing people who were in the area. Several nearby homes were alsoundergoing renovations at the time of the slaying."I was home all day," Milton said. "I never heard anything."Milton said she didn't know the housekeeper and had no idea when shesaw her last.With files from Robyn Doolittle* * * * *http://www.canada.com/nationalpost/news/story.html?id=6dbda404-2e45-4c91-9246-c189da4e82f0&k=71572Maid found dead at estateProfessional couple are private, neighbours say Natalie Alcoba, National Post, with files from Zosia Bielski and KaronLiuPublished: Wednesday, October 03, 2007MISSISSAUGA - A palatial mansion overlooking the Credit River is thescene of a murder investigation after a maid was found dead inside the home.Police have not revealed how the 27-year-old Filipina woman died, butshe was discovered late on Monday afternoon by one of the homeowners.Constable Samantha Nulle, with Peel Regional Police, described the incident as "isolated" and said the public's safety had not been at risk.Police did not release the name of the deceased yesterday as they workedto notify her family. There was no information about a possible suspect.View Larger ImagePolice investigate a crime scene in a wealthy area of Mississaugayesterday. Police have not released the name of a woman identified as thehousekeeper.Peter J. Thompson, National Post Email to a friendPrinter friendlyFont:****According to neighbours, the stucco house at the end ofDoulton Place has been occupied for five years by a South Asian couple, oneof whom is a doctor and the other in the import-export business. With its impeccably manicured grounds and prime location overlooking aravine, the house is arguably the finest on the street. Some estimateit could sell for around $5-million; one contractor pegged it as high $15-million.Its expansive grounds are surrounded by an ornate steel fence, andguarded by a pair of stone lions, about four feet high, that are baringtheir teeth. Yesterday, a BMW SUV and an Infiniti were parked in the driveway. The vehicles are registered to a Vasdev Chanchlani and JayshreeChanchlani.Dr. Jaya Chanchlani has a medical practice in a Brampton mall nearKennedy Road and Bovaird Drive. Staff at her office said the doctor was not at work yesterday."I'm not at [sic] the right to talk about anything right now," anemployee said over the phone.According to online records, the Chanchlanis, who have three childrennamed Tina, Sonia and Neil, donated more than a $1,000 to the TrilliumHealth Centre foundation last year.Dr. Chanchlani did not pick up her cellphone or return messagesyesterday."They 're very private people," said Carolyn Milton, who lives next door to the Chanchlanis.She said the couple was the original owners of the house, which wasbuilt about five years ago. She said she had not seen the family "forages"."We don't know what happened or why it happened," a visibly distraught Ms. Milton said to a pack of reporters on her driveway."They are very private people," her daughter, Karen Stewart,reiterated. "We really didn't know the maid."Ms. Milton said she believed the woman was from the Phillipines. She said police officers came to her house on Monday around supper timeand something about "the way they were talking" left her with theimpression that they might have a suspect in mind."[They said] not to be alarmed, it wasn't an intruder." When asked about how she felt about what had happened, Ms. Miltonreplied: "A little shocked, OK. This is next door."Const. Nulle said the dead woman, who she described as the housekeeper,was found inside the house, but would not specify the preciselocation. She said investigators consider "the entire residence to be a crimescene until proven otherwise" and said forensic officers would continue the painstaking process of collecting evidence.Const. Nulle would not say which homeowner had discovered the body, butone man who lives on the street said he was told by officers that itwas the wife who had found the woman when she came home. Police have not said if anyone else was in the house at the time of the murder.Adrian, whose father purchased a home a few doors down from the crimescene, said strangers drive along Doulton Place, in the Mississauga Roadand Dundas Street area, all the time. "It's like sight seeing," hesaid. "You never know who is coming or going."(c) National Post 2007
OWWA probes death of Filipina worker in
Canada
By Vincent Cabreza Northern Luzon BureauLast updated 06:02pm (Mla time) 10/03/2007
BAGUIO CITY, Philippines -- The Overseas Workers Welfare Office here has asked the Philippine embassy in Canada to check on Internet reports alleging "foul play" in the death of a 27-year-old Filipina from Hingyon, Ifugao, who worked as a maid in Mississauga City.
Anthony Basil, Cordillera case officer of the Overseas Workers Welfare Office here, said they asked the embassy officials to look into the mysterious death of a certain Jocelyn, said to be a resident of the village of Namulditan in Hingyon.
Ifugao officials have yet to receive any information on the woman's death.
The administrator of www.igorotblogger.blogspot.com posted some of the first reports about "our kailiyan's (community member) death."
The reports said the woman's cousin, a Toronto-based worker, had identified Jocelyn's body. The cousin sent e-mail messages to her Ifugao relatives to confirm Jocelyn's murder.
According to the reports, the police in Mississauga "believed the victim died as a result of foul play."
PRESS STATEMENT
PRESS STATEMENT
THE JOCELYN DULNUAN SUPPORT COMMITTEE
6 October 2007
JOCELYN DULNUAN: TWICE A VICTIM
We, in the Jocelyn Dulnuan Support Committee, are deeply saddened by the death of a kababayan/ compatriot, a sister and co-worker, and we offer our deepest sympathies to her family, relatives and friends.
Jocelyn came from an indigenous farming community in Ifugao province north of Manila. She worked for a year in Hong Kong as a domestic before coming to Canada. Like many other Filipino migrants, she left the Philippines to seek a better life for her family,
Jocelyn came to Canada under the Live-In Caregiver Program, a federal government program that allows Filipinas to come as caregivers. In this program, she was required to live in her employer’s residence – a condition that renders her vulnerable to all kinds of exploitation and abuse.
Yet Jocelyn did not only suffer a violent death at the hands of still unknown assailants in her employer’s mansion, she was also a casualty of the Philippine government’s Labour Export Policy (LEP) that pushes us out of the country to work and be separated from our families. Jocelyn’s death is another in a long line of the many atrocities happening against Philippine migrants abroad, including in Canada.
The Philippines is a maldeveloped country cursed by a backward unindustrialized economy. It serves foreign interests by supplying cheap labour for components, a market for consumer goods, a source of raw materials, and now a source of workers and interest from debt. With this backward economy, the overwhelming number of Filipinos cannot find decent work to support themselves and their families.
To alleviate the potential social explosion due to mass unemployment and poverty, the government of the Philippines has turned to a labour export policy (LEP). It systematically sends people overseas to feed off the billions in remittances sent home every year, and represses opposition at home. Around 3000 Filipinos are now daily leaving the country to search for work abroad. There are now some ten million Filipinos outside the Philippines, working in over one hundred countries. And this year alone, they have remitted close to US$15 billion.
It is therefore such a shame that the Philippine Consulate continues to drag its feet in exercising its responsibility for bringing Jocelyn’s remains back to her hometown even as the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs has already issued instructions “to provide … full assistance to the victim’s next of kin, especially in the repatriation of the remains to the Philippines.”
While we continue to raise support for the family that Jocelyn left behind, we strongly demand that the Philippine Consulate muster all the necessary resources to bring Jocelyn’s remains back home. The Consulate has the responsibility to look after the rights and welfare of its nationals, especially its overseas workers, who send billions of dollars to their home country every year, saving it from bankruptcy.
And while the Canadian authorities should conduct a thorough investigation into the murder of Jocelyn and bring the assailants to justice, all the more we, along with the rest of the Filipino community urge the Philippine government through its Consulate here in Toronto, to assume its responsibility in pressing the Canadian authorities in this regard.
REFERENCE: Maria Sol Pajadura. Cell: 647-448-7030. Email: mail@siklab.org.
THE JOCELYN DULNUAN SUPPORT COMMITTEE
6 October 2007
JOCELYN DULNUAN: TWICE A VICTIM
We, in the Jocelyn Dulnuan Support Committee, are deeply saddened by the death of a kababayan/ compatriot, a sister and co-worker, and we offer our deepest sympathies to her family, relatives and friends.
Jocelyn came from an indigenous farming community in Ifugao province north of Manila. She worked for a year in Hong Kong as a domestic before coming to Canada. Like many other Filipino migrants, she left the Philippines to seek a better life for her family,
Jocelyn came to Canada under the Live-In Caregiver Program, a federal government program that allows Filipinas to come as caregivers. In this program, she was required to live in her employer’s residence – a condition that renders her vulnerable to all kinds of exploitation and abuse.
Yet Jocelyn did not only suffer a violent death at the hands of still unknown assailants in her employer’s mansion, she was also a casualty of the Philippine government’s Labour Export Policy (LEP) that pushes us out of the country to work and be separated from our families. Jocelyn’s death is another in a long line of the many atrocities happening against Philippine migrants abroad, including in Canada.
The Philippines is a maldeveloped country cursed by a backward unindustrialized economy. It serves foreign interests by supplying cheap labour for components, a market for consumer goods, a source of raw materials, and now a source of workers and interest from debt. With this backward economy, the overwhelming number of Filipinos cannot find decent work to support themselves and their families.
To alleviate the potential social explosion due to mass unemployment and poverty, the government of the Philippines has turned to a labour export policy (LEP). It systematically sends people overseas to feed off the billions in remittances sent home every year, and represses opposition at home. Around 3000 Filipinos are now daily leaving the country to search for work abroad. There are now some ten million Filipinos outside the Philippines, working in over one hundred countries. And this year alone, they have remitted close to US$15 billion.
It is therefore such a shame that the Philippine Consulate continues to drag its feet in exercising its responsibility for bringing Jocelyn’s remains back to her hometown even as the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs has already issued instructions “to provide … full assistance to the victim’s next of kin, especially in the repatriation of the remains to the Philippines.”
While we continue to raise support for the family that Jocelyn left behind, we strongly demand that the Philippine Consulate muster all the necessary resources to bring Jocelyn’s remains back home. The Consulate has the responsibility to look after the rights and welfare of its nationals, especially its overseas workers, who send billions of dollars to their home country every year, saving it from bankruptcy.
And while the Canadian authorities should conduct a thorough investigation into the murder of Jocelyn and bring the assailants to justice, all the more we, along with the rest of the Filipino community urge the Philippine government through its Consulate here in Toronto, to assume its responsibility in pressing the Canadian authorities in this regard.
REFERENCE: Maria Sol Pajadura. Cell: 647-448-7030. Email: mail@siklab.org.
Dulnuan Support Committee
This afternoon the Jocelyn Dulnuan Support Committee held a press conference and a fundraiser with the Filipino Association of the City of Vaughan. Some 160 people attended the event. Speaking on the panel were Imie Belanger, relative of Jocelyn and member of BIBAK, and Ma. Sol Pajadura of Migrante Ontario. Marissa and Belen were there with me earlier this evening.
THE JOCELYN DULNUAN SUPPORT COMMITTEE : Asosacion Negrense, AWARE/Gabay, Community Alliance for Social Justice (CASJ), Ifugao Association, Migrante-Ontario [DAMAYAN Migrant Resource and Education Centre, SIKLAB, Ugnayan ng Kabataang Pilipino sa Canada-Toronto (UKPCTO), United Filipinos for Nationalism and Democracy (UfiND)], Philippine Independence Day Council (PIDC), Philippine Press Club of Ontario (PPCO)
THE JOCELYN DULNUAN SUPPORT COMMITTEE : Asosacion Negrense, AWARE/Gabay, Community Alliance for Social Justice (CASJ), Ifugao Association, Migrante-Ontario [DAMAYAN Migrant Resource and Education Centre, SIKLAB, Ugnayan ng Kabataang Pilipino sa Canada-Toronto (UKPCTO), United Filipinos for Nationalism and Democracy (UfiND)], Philippine Independence Day Council (PIDC), Philippine Press Club of Ontario (PPCO)
OWWA needs to redefine its Services
HK group hits OWWA chief on 'callous' remarks10/11/2007 06:05 PMA Hong Kong-based Filipino workers group on Thursday criticizedAdministrator Marianito Roque of the Overseas Workers WelfareAdministration (OWWA) for making what it considered as “callous" remarkson the murder of an OFW in Canada.
“Instead of showing concern for Jocelyn Dulnuan, murdered on Oct 1, Roqueused the victim’s death to castigate OFWs who failed to pay their dues toOWWA," said Dolores Balladares, chair of the United Filipinos - Hong Kong(Unifil – HK).
The HK group asked Roque to make a public apology to Dulnuan's family forhis insensitive remarks, which the group sees as OWWA’s justification fornot providing financial assistance for the repatriation of the victim'sremains.On Oct 9, GMANews.TV quoted Roque as reminding OFWs to pay theirmembership dues, saying, “We never know what could happen to us whileworking abroad," noting the case of 27-year-old Dulnuan.“Roque even wrongly depicted Dulnuan as undocumented worker for herfailure to pay her dues to OWWA even if she has a legal employmentcontract in Canada," Balladares said.Roque’s remark also gave Balladares a chance to lash at the “loopholes" inthe OWWA Omnibus Policies which, she claimed, “was secretly approved bythe agency’s board of trustees on Sept 19, 2003."Under its policies, OWWA will only help repatriate OFWs who are victims ofnatural calamities, epidemics and wars. The rule stems from Section 6 ofArticle VIII of the Migrant Workers and Overseas Filipinos Act of 1995 (RA8042).“But government response to such situations, particularly the Lebanon Warin July and August 2006, was pathetic to say the least," she said.The OWWA failed to provide adequate help to some 30,000 Filipinos trappedin that war. Worse, she said, only 25 percent of the money used torepatriate (eventually) some 4,000 from Lebanon came from the Philippinegovernment.Balladares dared the OWWA to account for the US$293,500 (P 12,972,700)fund releases for the Philippine Middle East Preparedness Team in theUS-Iraq war in 2003.She claimed that no evacuation actually happened during that time andthere was never an audit for those funds.The group called on the congressional committee on overseas workersaffairs and the Senate to conduct an inquiry on the implementation of theOmnibus Policies of OWWA. - Luis Gorgonio, GMNews.TV
“Instead of showing concern for Jocelyn Dulnuan, murdered on Oct 1, Roqueused the victim’s death to castigate OFWs who failed to pay their dues toOWWA," said Dolores Balladares, chair of the United Filipinos - Hong Kong(Unifil – HK).
The HK group asked Roque to make a public apology to Dulnuan's family forhis insensitive remarks, which the group sees as OWWA’s justification fornot providing financial assistance for the repatriation of the victim'sremains.On Oct 9, GMANews.TV quoted Roque as reminding OFWs to pay theirmembership dues, saying, “We never know what could happen to us whileworking abroad," noting the case of 27-year-old Dulnuan.“Roque even wrongly depicted Dulnuan as undocumented worker for herfailure to pay her dues to OWWA even if she has a legal employmentcontract in Canada," Balladares said.Roque’s remark also gave Balladares a chance to lash at the “loopholes" inthe OWWA Omnibus Policies which, she claimed, “was secretly approved bythe agency’s board of trustees on Sept 19, 2003."Under its policies, OWWA will only help repatriate OFWs who are victims ofnatural calamities, epidemics and wars. The rule stems from Section 6 ofArticle VIII of the Migrant Workers and Overseas Filipinos Act of 1995 (RA8042).“But government response to such situations, particularly the Lebanon Warin July and August 2006, was pathetic to say the least," she said.The OWWA failed to provide adequate help to some 30,000 Filipinos trappedin that war. Worse, she said, only 25 percent of the money used torepatriate (eventually) some 4,000 from Lebanon came from the Philippinegovernment.Balladares dared the OWWA to account for the US$293,500 (P 12,972,700)fund releases for the Philippine Middle East Preparedness Team in theUS-Iraq war in 2003.She claimed that no evacuation actually happened during that time andthere was never an audit for those funds.The group called on the congressional committee on overseas workersaffairs and the Senate to conduct an inquiry on the implementation of theOmnibus Policies of OWWA. - Luis Gorgonio, GMNews.TV
Migrant Workers sacrifice their lives
Few months ago, I looked after a funeral of a Filipina caregiver who just arrived in Toronto this year 2007. She was diagnosed of a disease which killed her in few weeks while employed in one of the homes in Ontario. I got the news from a priest in Hongkong, who received a call from one of her friends here in Toronto. I got a phone call that she died at the hospital. She has no coverage of insurance whatsoever. Friends gathered around. The grassroot organizations raised some amount and comforted her friends. They could not afford the cost of the visitation at the Funeral home. For few minutes, I conducted the funeral rites and tried to console the people there. There was no indication at that time the Philippine Consulate extended their support and help. We know that most of the Caregivers do pay some dues to Philippine government for some kind of insurance. However, many of them stay outside the Philippines and are not perhaps paying their dues because they do not frequent Philippines. It was a sad event, and I felt bad for the Agency who made her migration possible. We should be doing to protect these migrant workers.
Recently, we heard of Jocelyn Dulnuan, who was killed in rich owned mansion in Mississauga, Ontario. It has been more than a week, now and we never heard any development how she died and what happen to the investigation by the Police in Peel Region.
We feel that Justice is not speedily happening for this migrant worker who died outside of her country. There are hundreds of them today anywhere in the world who suffer the same fate because the countries who sent them out do not care.
I will be posting the development of what is happening in the community because of this situation.
Our government is somehow responsible for the plight of many migrant workers like us. Because of economic situation back home, Millions of Filipinos have to flee economic hardships backhome by working outside the country as caregivers, and other oversea workers leaving their loved ones most of the time for years. We have about more than 10 million people in diaspora, perhaps larger than Jewish people outside of Israel, wandering around in Europe, North America, Middle East looking for the Promise land, flowing with milk and with honey. I have been waiting for more news regarding Jocelyn Dulnuan who died violently in an affluent home in Mississauga. Her mother works in Hongkong, and she has only distant relatives here in Ontario. She is also from the Ifugao region of the indigenous areas in Northern Philippines. She came from a tribal roots in Ifugao. We would like to follow up the Newspapers, like Toronto Sun and others about what is happening to the investigation. We encourage organizations to send inquiries about her situation. We have created a Committee for her and there will be a Vigil this coming Sunday October 14 at 12:30 a Vigil Service for Jocelyn Dulnuan. We invite the Community to gather at San Lorenzo Ruiz c/o St. Simon's located at 525 Bloor Street East.
Please exit at Sherbourne and Bloor St. and walk thru Glen Road. The Parish is at Bloor St toward Danforth Ave. and it is also located near Howard Avenue and Ontario Street. Please call me at 416 456-7417 Fr. Ariel Dumaran for directions. We hope to rally organizations to pressure our Justice system to provide some answers about Jocelyn Dulnuan. We appreciate the response of the Philippine Consulate. We hope that we will more of these actions from them whenever any migrant experience oppressions, and human rights violations.
Recently, we heard of Jocelyn Dulnuan, who was killed in rich owned mansion in Mississauga, Ontario. It has been more than a week, now and we never heard any development how she died and what happen to the investigation by the Police in Peel Region.
We feel that Justice is not speedily happening for this migrant worker who died outside of her country. There are hundreds of them today anywhere in the world who suffer the same fate because the countries who sent them out do not care.
I will be posting the development of what is happening in the community because of this situation.
Our government is somehow responsible for the plight of many migrant workers like us. Because of economic situation back home, Millions of Filipinos have to flee economic hardships backhome by working outside the country as caregivers, and other oversea workers leaving their loved ones most of the time for years. We have about more than 10 million people in diaspora, perhaps larger than Jewish people outside of Israel, wandering around in Europe, North America, Middle East looking for the Promise land, flowing with milk and with honey. I have been waiting for more news regarding Jocelyn Dulnuan who died violently in an affluent home in Mississauga. Her mother works in Hongkong, and she has only distant relatives here in Ontario. She is also from the Ifugao region of the indigenous areas in Northern Philippines. She came from a tribal roots in Ifugao. We would like to follow up the Newspapers, like Toronto Sun and others about what is happening to the investigation. We encourage organizations to send inquiries about her situation. We have created a Committee for her and there will be a Vigil this coming Sunday October 14 at 12:30 a Vigil Service for Jocelyn Dulnuan. We invite the Community to gather at San Lorenzo Ruiz c/o St. Simon's located at 525 Bloor Street East.
Please exit at Sherbourne and Bloor St. and walk thru Glen Road. The Parish is at Bloor St toward Danforth Ave. and it is also located near Howard Avenue and Ontario Street. Please call me at 416 456-7417 Fr. Ariel Dumaran for directions. We hope to rally organizations to pressure our Justice system to provide some answers about Jocelyn Dulnuan. We appreciate the response of the Philippine Consulate. We hope that we will more of these actions from them whenever any migrant experience oppressions, and human rights violations.
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