MIGRANTE Japan Slams the Philippine Government for Mass Deportation of 75 Filipinos

Tokyo - TBS (Tokyo Broadcasting System) reported today that 75 Filipinos had been deported back to the Philippines. This is the first time that such mass deportation of undocumented migrants in Japan is carried out by Japanese immigration.

MIGRANTE Japan and the Philippine Center for Migrant Concerns condemn this action by Japan and the Philippine government for failing to protect the interest of our migrants. As reported by TBS Online, the deportees were forcibly taken from their detention facilities very early in the morning of July 6, some were still in their sleepwear when herded by bus straight to the Narita International Airport.

Along with the 75 Filipinos were 60 immigration personnel who served as their escort and security until they reached NAIA International Airport. 

In spite of stricter immigration controls there remains some 20,000 t0 30,000 undocumented Filipinos in Japan based on MIGRANTE Japan's estimate. The perennial problem of unemployment in the Philippines worsened by the spiraling increase in the price of basis goods and services, including public utilities, are forcing thousands of Filipinos to work abroad accepting all kinds of jobs just to survive. Many, like the 75 deportees from Japan risk of becoming undocumented because the situation in the Philippines contrary to government claims is not getting any better.

MIGRANTE Japan challenges the Philippine government to address the roots of problems that force thousands of Filipinos to leave the country every day to search for the proverbial greener pasture abroad and to review its labor export policy to provide adequate protection and assistance to our OFWs worldwide.

Our OFWs do not deserve to be treated like this.

MIGRANTE Japan