Punzi's Corner Blog

As the latest news item states, Robert Tarongoy was released by his Iraqi captors sometime today.


He may be expecting a hero's welcome when he comes back. He may be expecting people to fete him with honors, a house and lot, a livelihood, etc.


Let me start by saying that I have nothing against OFWs and their contribution to the nation. My Dad was the original OFW (decades before that term was coined). He worked in Guam in the early 70s and the Middle East for most of the 80s. My Dad did not see me grow up and my earliest memories of him was the fantastic presents he gives me every time he returns.

I already knew where Iraq and Kuwait (my dad helped build some buildings in Baghdad and the Basra Sheraton Hotel) were during the late 70s when people knew where they were only in the early 90s. Also, if it wasn't for my Dad's sacrifice, we would not enjoy the life of a little comfort that we have (because I moved back to their house, remember?) now.

So believe me when I say, I know their plight and the sacrifices they make very well.

HOWEVER, let us not forget that Mr. Tarongoy slipped out to Iraq in blatant disregard of the government ban on Filipino workers in Iraq (because of the Angelo Dela Cruz incident). And he did this at his own peril.

So it's one thing to go abroad and seek a better life for one's family. It's another thing when GREED comes into the picture. Let's face it. Mr. Tarongoy was already earning a decent living as an accountant in Saudi Arabia. It was his GREED that made him take the bait and go to Iraq-- and that got him kidnapped.

And as he did so, the government nevertheless spent precious resources to secure his release in the form of the salaries and expenses of the Philippine Iraq Crisis Team or Team Iraq specifically formed to secure his release. These resources could have been spent feeding the hungry, curing the sick and providing for the needy. The government readily spent this to avoid being unpopular, as well as other political repercussions.


(PS. Malaya reports that the Philippine government allegedly paid $1.4M ransom to secure Tarongoy's release. That's about P78.4 Million Pesos. You can relocate and provide housing for 392 underprivileged families with that money [@ the standard NHA Relocation package of P200,000.00 each]. How many schools, barangay centers, parks, etc. can the government construct with this money?)

(Of course, this is my humble opinion. You are welcome to disagree and comment because that's the beauty of free speech. Something I took an oath to defend.)