Protest On Release of Philippine Recruiter/Trafficker Isidro Rodriquez Of Philippine Teac

5/16 SF Protest On Release of Philippine Recruiter/Trafficker Isidro Rodriquez Of Philippine Teachers-Trafficked Teachers Demand Answers


CONTACTS:

Silent protest contact: Faye 707-567-1074



VISUALS: International Manhunt WANTED signs for Isidro Rodriguez



Trafficked Teachers Demand Answers from Ambassador Cuisia Regarding Recent Release of Isidro Rodriguez



Community to Hold Silent Protest Outside Consulate While Teachers

Meet with the Visiting Ambassador



SAN FRANCISCO-- Trafficked teachers and representatives of grassroots organizations, GABRIELA USA, Migrante Northern California, National Alliance for Filipino Concerns (NAFCON) will be meeting with SF Philippine Consuls and Ambassador Cuisia, to protest the recent release of their recruiter and trafficker Isidro Rodriguez from jail in the Philippines.



WHERE: Philippine Consulate General in San Francisco, 447 Sutter Street, San Francisco, CA



WHEN: TODAY, Friday, May 16, 2014

Trafficked Teachers Delegation with SF Consuls and Ambassador Cuisia will be from 3:30-4:30pm at 5th floor, social hall. An outside silent protest will start gathering at 4:15/4:30.



More than 200 teachers paid more than $10,000 for a teaching job upon arrival to the U.S. only to find that their promised jobs were non-existent. Having previously been victims of fraud, abuse, exploitation and threatened by Rodriguez, the teachers are fearful for themselves and their families. Isidro Rodriguez was released from detention after being arrested last year in November. A few days after his release, he failed to show up for a Department of Justice court appearance scheduled on May 13th. An international manhunt is now on to locate Rodriguez, with teachers in the Philippines and the U.S. requesting that the Philippine Bureau of Immigration and the U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement alert Interpol in case he tries to leave the Philippines or come back to the United States.



Teachers are also frustrated with all of the Philippine government agencies which should have protected them from the criminal activities of Rodriguez. This would be the second time Rodriguez was released for his human trafficking activity despite the many pending cases of human trafficking that are being filed against him, which adds to the many injustices the teachers have already suffered. The delegation hopes to convey issues that all victims of human trafficking coming from the Philippines are facing and seeking justice from the Philippine consulates and embassies for their promise to protect their well-being as Overseas workers.

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