ZAMBOANGA CITY—Dreaming for a better future in Malaysia was something and the only thing that was all planned for single mom Leona (not her real name), a Filipino, who left for Malaysia to work as a babysitter.

For Leona, this was a chance of a lifetime that cannot be missed. Although she had a business which was doing well, she did not hesitate to leave her business as well as her daughter thinking that a better life as a babysitter in Malaysia awaits her.

Her aunt who was also a halaw (a term used for deportee or rejected from Malaysia) several times before getting identity papers there was her inspiration.

Leona is only one of the halaws or deportees being housed at the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Processing Center for Displaced Persons in Talon–Talon, Zamboanga City.

There are about 400 Filipino deportees from Malaysia arriving at Zamboanga Port every week. These Filipino deportees/repatriates are undocumented Filipino nationals who are illegally working in Malaysia and failed to secure the document set by the Philippine and Malaysian governments.

While in jail in Malaysia, Leona was able to see her resilience and patience to understand the situation. She suddenly began to observe and think of what had happened. Some, she believes, have far worse conditions than her.

Leona said, "Medyo malakas naman ang negosyo namin pero talagang gusto kong umasenso kaya pumunta ako doon. Inisip ko ito para sa kinabukasan ng anak ko. Doon, nagtrabaho ako sa auntie ko bilang babysitter. Ang sweldo ko mga 15,000 pesos monthly.... (Our business was doing well but I really wanted to improve our income so I went. I thought I was doing this for the future of my child. There, I worked for my aunt as a babysitter. My salary was about 15,000 pesos monthly....)

"Nahuli ako kasama ng iba pang friends ko. Apat kaming babae at birthday nuon nung isa naming kaibigan nuong nangyari ang paghuli sa amin. Parang wala lang akong naramdaman noon. Pero ang bilis ng mga pangyayari. Di ko akalain sasapitin ko yun. Kinuhanan kami ng photo at lumabas pa kami sa TV. Buti na lang di pinapalabas sa Pinas––yung news na iyon kase ayaw ko makita ako ng pamilya ko na ganun ang nangyari sa akin. (I was arrested together with some of my friends. There were four of us women and it was then the birthday of one of our friends when we were arrested. It seemed I felt nothing at that time. But things were happening so fast. I did not think it would happen to me. They took pictures of us and we were even shown on TV. Good thing it was not shown in the Philippines––the news about us being arrested because I did not want my family to see me like that.)

"Nakulong ako ng tatlong buwan sa Rumah Merah (jail in Malaysia). Dala–dala ko pa yung mga pasalubong ko para sa pamilya ko. Iniisip ko na nagbakasyon lang ako para di ako mawalan ng pag–asa. Di naman talaga mahirap sa Rumah Merah pero sa araw–araw doon mahirap, yung limang minuto lang ang pagligo––bibilangan ka ng bantay. (I was in jail for three months at Rumah Merah [jail in Malaysia]. I was bringing then with me my gifts for my family. I kept in mind that I was there for vacation in order for me not to lose hope. It was not really hard at Rumah Merah but the day to day living there was difficult, where bathing is only for five minutes—the jail guards would time you.)

"Madaming nakakulong doon (Rumah Merah), karamihan may mga anak. Kahit na asawa na may identity papers nakasama sa paghuli. Pero kahit siksikan at madami, tahimik sila. Di ko alam bakit. Nahihilo siguro. Yung si Naima (not her real name), isang dalaga, kasama niya walong kapatid niya at nanay niya. Nakakaawa sila dahil puro mga bata—lahat nakakulong wala naman silang kasalanan. Mga bata lang sila. (Many were jailed there [Rumah Merah], mostly with children. Even spouses with identity papers were jailed. But despite the packed jail and there were many of us, they were quite. I do not know why. Maybe they were dizzy. Naima [not her real name], a young lady, was there together with eight of her siblings and her mother. They were so pitiful because all were children—all in jail without a slightest fault on their part. They are just children.)

"Masaya ako na makakauwi na ako next week. Di ko na dinidibdib ang nangyari sa akin kase mas alam ko na ang mas importante, ang makasama ko ang anak ko. (I am happy that I can go home next week. I do not anymore care what happened to me because I know most what is important, to be with my own child.)

"Nakakatakot talaga dahil hindi mo alam ang puwedeng mangyari sayo doon. (It is really scary because you would not know what could happen to you there.)"

The DSWD Processing Center provides temporary shelter/care (clothing and provision of low cost nutritious hot meals), financial assistance for transportation expense to points of origin, and psycho–social services for the client to deal with the emotional effects of being deported especially their separation from loved ones through stress debriefing. The center also provides medical assistance, burial assistance, and referral to local government unit (LGU) for support services.

The DSWD reported that the biggest bulk of expenses is for transport fare in sending home the deportees, especially those who are from Palawan and Cagayan de Tawi–Tawi, the farthest island town of Tawi–Tawi province. Majority of the deportees are from the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), specifically from the provinces of Basilan, Sulu and Tawi–Tawi.

The social welfare office further reported that the government is already making the proper representation through the department's attaché in Kuala Lumpur to the Malaysian authorities to ensure that Filipinos are in good health whenever they will be deported back to the country.

Zamboanga City Mayor Celso Lobregat earlier announced that the Malaysian authorities had assured them that the Filipinos who would be deported will be in good health.

A total of Php1.7 million from the combined resources of the DSWD, non–government organizations (NGOs), and the local government units (LGUs) has been provided to Filipino deportees from Malaysia from January to April 8, 2006. Of the total amount, Php1.68 million came from DSWD, while Php11,200 came from LGUs and Php25,500 from the NGOs.

DSWD Undersecretary Celia Yangco, in a recent roundtable consultation in Zamboanga, particularly with Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), said that the DSWD continues to provide assistance to Filipino deportees from Malaysia. She said the continuous collaboration with ARMM and partner agencies can improve the management and processing of deportees, as well as to come up with effective services on the immediate needs of the Filipino deportees.

About 90 percent of the deportees are from Sulu and Tawi-Tawi. From January to March this year, a total of 1,848 Filipinos have been deported from Malaysia.

On April 8, this year, 329 Filipino deportees from Malaysia arrived, composed of 76 children, 106 youths, and 107 adults. The deportees were from Tawi-Tawi, Sulu, Basilan, Zamboanga City, Misamis Occidental, and Palawan.

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