‘I was then transported to CID Headquarters and along the way, one officer smiled at me and said ‘you’re selling drugs’OFW
WHAT follows was sent in by a friend of one who identified himself solely as “Prisoner # 182830” in an earlier column. He is in the Central Jail in Dubai and is serving life imprisonment.
OFWOFW POEA Work Abroad Echague Isabela
He has not been helped by anyone – not by any government agency nor any non-governmental organization (NGO) that concerns itself with Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW) or any civic or religion-based charity.
I offer his letter to our consciences.
OFW
Why are we letting this Pinoy down? Why do we have to wait until the OFW is about to be executed before we react?
OFW
“My name is Ryan Jeffrey Batenga. My hometown is Gerona in Tarlac Province. I am 31 years old and the first-born son of my family. I was educated at Don Bosco Technical Institute for my primary and at St. Rose Catholic School for my secondary. I went to St. Louis University for college and furthered my education in the UAE, earned certificate in the field of Graphic Design and Publishing from Informatics Computer and Cultural Institute.
OFW
“I am a graphic designer by profession and have been working in Dubai for almost 10 years. I have never had a criminal record anywhere before but I have fallen in dire circumstances currently. I have promulgated the circumstances of my present incarceration, which I have attached to this plea. I beg your consideration of this matter and pray that mercy and forgiveness is forthcoming from the relevant authorities in due course.
“I request in all penitence that due consideration of my plight may be laid beyond the authorities and that I may be considered and granted amnesty, if this is applicable, at the time of the 114th Philippine Independence Day on June of this year 2012.
OFW
“On the evening of 15th May 2010, I gave a friend of mine a call, asking him if it could be possible for him to extend me some help. I have been unable to keep my credit card and car loan payments up to date and was really in need of help. This friend of mine, Ahbel Renhard Herrera, did say that he would be glad to help me, even going to the extent of saying that with all that we have gone through and the numerous times that I have helped him out in the past, he would be very happy to return the favors I have done for him. I asked him if he might be able to lend an old friend AED 5000/- (Five Thousand Dirhams), saying that I will give it to him as soon as my salary comes, which was just two (2) weeks far. He said yes, and suggested that he give it to me the next day, wherein he will come by my office and see me. We then agreed and said our goodbyes, then hung up.Structural Steel Detailing Batanes Islands
OFW
“Morning of 16th May 2010, I gave Ahbel a call, asking him of his whereabouts and he said that he was on his way to my office, that I wait for his call when he is already in the area near my office (Al Quoz Industrial 3, Dubai). By 10:20 – 10:30 AM, he called me back, and he asked me to wait for him in front of my office. I did as he asked and afterwards a white Toyota Rav-4 came, with Ahbel sitting on the front passenger seat.
“I recognized the SUV and knew that it belonged to a certain “Bok” (real name I never knew) whom I have met before in one of the few times that I have stumbled upon Ahbel on the streets of Dubai while driving. Ahbel asked me to get in the vehicle and so I did. I saw ‘Bok’ and said hello, and I was introduced to another man named ‘Jun’, a thin Filipino guy with dark skin and wearing a baseball cap.
OFW
“Ahbel then asked me for a cigarette and I then fished out an open pack of Marlboro Lights, handed it to him, and then he took it, and we drove off. I told Ahbel that I can’t be away from the office for long because it’s too early and that I have a lot of things to do. He smiled at me and said that it won’t take long, and that he just doesn’t want us talking in front of my office.
OFW
“I did not see any wrong in it so I went with his idea. He then gave me the money I was borrowing from him, telling me that he was only able to raise AED 3000/- (Three Thousand Dirhams). I told him it was fine, and that the amount would do. All throughout our conversation, both Bok and Jun were just quiet, not seeming to mind me and Ahbel.
OFW
“I then asked Ahbel if we could go around the block where they could then drop me in front of my office. He said that they would drop me behind my office instead, so as not to miss their exit towards the main road. Seeing that it still was not so hot outside and that the walk from behind my office was just a few meters, I agreed with his idea. We then stopped behind my office, which was just across from Courtyard Gallery (a coffee shop/restaurant/art gallery).Work in Singapore
OFW
“Before I stepped out of the vehicle, Ahbel stopped me and reminded me of my cigarettes. I said I don’t mind if he will have them, but he insisted that I take them with me and they would just pass by a store to get some for themselves.
OFW
“I said okay, took my cigarette pack and smiled and then said goodbye to the three of them, even shaking hands with Ahbel before they drove. (Please note that inside the vehicle, ‘Bok was driving and Ahbel was in the front passenger seat. ‘Jun’ was seated behind the driver and I was behind Ahbel).
“I watched them drive-off, and when they were a considerable distance away, I started walking towards my office.
“As soon as I turned my back and was about to enter Courtyard Gallery, a car (black Honda Accord) stopped behind me. A man (he must be a CID) came out and jumped on me. Another man handcuffed me and started searching my pockets. He then took the money that Ahbel gave me and the pack of cigarettes that I had. I was shocked and puzzled but somehow managed to stay calm. I was then told to get inside the car, which I did.
OFW
“Inside, two CID officers (one calls himself ‘Tiger’, and the other one “Captain Ali”) showed me a photocopied piece of paper, with the same AED 3000/- (Three Thousand Dirhams) notes, serial numbers matching those that Ahbel supposedly lent/loaned me. He then produced the cigarette pack that they took from my pocket, opened it and took a piece of what looked like a plastic wrapper/parcel containing what they say was amphetamines.
OFW
“I have watched enough films and read a lot of books about the cop-work and it dawned on me the situation I was in. I was obviously being stitched up and somehow I knew that trying to reason out would be useless. Someone then took my hands and dipped them in an inkpad, forcing them afterwards on to the photocopy of notes. It took a lot of time and struggled before they were able to get my prints on paper. I was then transported to CID Headquarters and along the way, one officer smiled at me and said ‘you’re selling drugs’”
