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Vote Sentosa 27 as Balitang Amerika's Newsmaker of the Year!

Dear Friends and Supporters:

Please place your vote NOW for the Sentosa 27 nurses as Balitang Amerika's Newsmaker of the Year. Please see the link below for info how to vote.

As you all know, NAFCON has worked hard to build the Sentosa 27 campaign and keep the Sentosa 27 in the news. As the nurses struggles continue with the Avalon 11 facing their criminal hearing on Dec 17th, we in the community must keep up the support and heighten the media profile of the case.

For all of us in the worldwide immigrant community, this case represents all of us!!!!

for the OFW,
Berna Ellorin


---------------------------------------------------------------

Voting until Nov 30, Newsmaker of the year will be announced on Dec 30, 2007.
check the link below.

http://www.abs-cbni.com/index.html


To Vote by text
Type: my newsmaker (space) name of choice and send to 650-766-1557

To vote by E-mail
Email balitangamerica@abs-cbni.com and type the name of your choice

AVALON 11-SENTOSA 27 STAY UNITED & STRONG DESPITE STALL TACTICS OF LONG ISLAND COURT

News Release
October 31, 2007

Reference: Rico Foz, Executive Vice President, National Alliance for Filipino Concerns, email: nafconusa @ yahoo.com

AVALON 11-SENTOSA 27 STAY UNITED & STRONG DESPITE STALL TACTICS OF LONG ISLAND COURT
New York-- The 10 former nurses with Avalon Gardens Nursing Home in Long Island who resigned from their positions as contract nurses with the SentosaCare LLC and their lawyer Felix Vinluan maintained a firmness of morale and spirit as they faced the Judge Robert Doyle together in the Suffolk Criminal Courthouse Monday morning, despite new tactics to stall the date of their criminal hearing to December 17th.

The hearing followed a Sunday townhall meeting in Queens in support of the nurses and lawyer organized by the National Alliance for Filipino Concerns or NAFCON.

Also known as the Avalon 11, the nurses and attorney face criminal charges of patient endangerment filed by SentosaCare LLC and its owner and CEO Bent Philipson. The 10 nurses have written documentation proving they did not walkout on their patients mid-shift, but completed their shifts before submitting their resignation letters to the Sentosa-owned Avalon Gardens in Long Island.

The Avalon 11 are also members of the Sentosa 27++, a group of Filipino nurses who are waging a justice campaign against Sentosa and Philipson for workplace abuse, withheld wages, and large-scale breach of contracts that constitute massive illegal recruitment.

The Avalon 11 were joined by their families, friends, and members of the National Alliance for Filipino Concerns, New York State Nurses Association (NYSNA), Philippine Nurses Association, and staff members Mount St. Vincent's Hospital. Vinluan was represented by his attorney, Oscar Michelen, while the former Avalon Gardens nurses were represented by their attorney, James Druker.

After a more than one-hour conference with Michelen and Druker, Judge Doyle moved to postpone the hearing till Monday, December 17.

"These stall tactics are often used to demoralize," stated Michelen and Druker as the explained the judge's decision to the nurses in a caucus outside the courtroom.

The Avalon 11 have been able to withstand for the past year various stall tactics by the court system to postpone dates and divide-and-conquer attempts of the Sentosa camp, but agreed to not let this latest postponement diminish their morale and unity.

"We will just come back with more supporters," stated Felix Vinluan, who was joined by his children. "We are not disheartened by this. We draw great strength from our many supporters and allies."

An online petition accessible at www.petitiononline.com/j4s27 has already garnered thousands of signatures calling for the State of New York to drop all criminal and civil charges on the Sentosa 27 and investigate the operations of the SentosaCare LLC and Philipson.

Vinluan and the nurses have filed a pending special request with Governor Spitzer requesting for a special prosecutor, unconvinced they will receive a fair and objective trial with the Suffolk County District Attorney, given Philipson's big political connections and interest to divert public attention from his own company's criminal operations.

Upon leaving the courtroom, the Avalon 11 were welcomed by an energetic picket led by NAFCON. Chanters shouted "Prosecute Sentosa, not the nurses!" Picketers were marked by bright yellow t-shirts that read: THESE NURSES ARE NOT CRIMINALS! THEY SAVE LIVES! The picket ended with the group singing of "Solidarity Forever" led by NYSNA.

"We will never let up. We believe that justice will be served, no matter how long or winding the road is. The Avalon 11 have the truth on their side. Sentosa does not," stated NAFCON representative Rico Foz. ###

SENTOSA, PHILIPSON ARE THE REAL CRIMINALS! DROP THE CHARGES ON THE AVALON 11!

Press Statement
October 29, 2007

Reference: Rico Foz, Executive Vice President, National Alliance for Filipino Concerns, email: nafconusa @ yahoo.com

SENTOSA, PHILIPSON ARE THE REAL CRIMINALS! DROP THE CHARGES ON THE AVALON 11!

The National Alliance for Filipino Concerns, a national alliance of Filipino-American organizations spanning 23 cities across the United States, fully supports the 10 criminally-charged nurses and their attorney known as the Avalon 11. In fact, we support all the Sentosa 27 nurses who have been disgustingly victimized by Sentosa Care LLC, its owner Bent Philipson, and its scheme of illegal recruitment from third world countries such as the Philippines to staff its facilities with cheap labor in New York City.

Today, the Avalon 11 are being charged with patient endangerment from the Suffolk County District Attorney's office. But these charges are trumped up and politically-motivated by Sentosa and Philipson in retaliation to the 10 nurses standing up for their rights after working under gravely violated contracts for months.

The 10 have documented proof that they did not abandon their shifts midway. They each finished their shifts completely and made sure there were nurses to take over. This does not constitute patient abandonment or endangerment. In fact, it is SentosaCare and Philipson that are guilty of endangering patients. By understaffing their nursing facilities, coupled with withholding wages from their nurses, patient-to-nurse ratios in Avalon Gardens reached as high as 60:1. Under these dangerous conditions, the child patients of Avalon Gardens are in more peak danger than if the nurses had actually walked out midshift.

Sentosa and Philipson are the real criminals because they are in the business of illegal recruitment, human trafficking, and indentured servitude. We demand a full investigation of Sentosa's criminal operations by the State of New York.

Under this context, we support the demand for a Special Prosecutor from Suffolk County to take the case as we believe the strong anti-immigrant sentiment and Sentosa's big political connections make impossible a fair and impartial criminal trial for the Avalon 11.

We salute the bravery of the Avalon 11 and the rest of the Sentosa 27 for standing up against immigrant discrimination, workplace abuse, illegal recruitment, indentured servitude, and Philipson using his political connections to Senator Charles Schumer and then-Philippine Cabinet Secretary Mike Defensor to stall the Sentosa 27 civil charges filed against Sentosa through the Department of Justice in Washington DC and the Philippine Overseas Employment Agency (POEA) in Manila.

The Filipino immigrant community is the 2nd largest immigrant community in US, while the Philippines is the #1 healthcare professional exporting country in the world. Our community will not let up until justice is served.

DROP THE CHARGES IN THE AVALON 11!
JUSTICE FOR THE SENTOSA 27 & ALL MIGRANT CONTRACT WORKERS!

Migrants group, OFW families slam Sentosa Agency

News Release
October 25, 2007
For reference: Maita Santiago, Secretary-General (0916-513-4366)

During picket-dialogue at POEA:
Migrants group, OFW families slam Sentosa Agency

An alliance of organizations composed of overseas Filipinos and their families today slammed anew the Sentosa Recruitment Agency (SRA) with a picket-dialogue at the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration. The dialogue delegation was led by Gabriela Women’s Partylist Rep. Liza Maza and along with Migrante, the relatives of the victims of the SRA and the Alliance of Health Workers participated in the protest.

“"The Sentosa Recruitment Agency is clearly guilty of large-scale illegal recruitment. Its operations should be suspended immediately and its license revoked permanently. We demand no less from POEA Admin. Rosalinda Baldoz,"” says Maita Santiago, Migrante International Secretary-General.



The Migrant Workers Act (section 6) deems that illegal recruitment is committed in large scale if it is committed against three or more persons. Large scale illegal recruitment is considered an offense involving economic sabotage. The Act (section 7) further states that the penalty for economic sabotage is life imprisonment and a fine of not less than P500,000 and not more than P1 million.



“"We also call on Admin. Baldoz to divulge the full extent of the political interventions at play which resulted in the grossly biased actions by the POEA against victims,”" she added, citing the letters by US Senator Schumer to POEA Admin. Baldoz, then-Labor Sec. Patricia Sto. Tomas, NY Consul General Ceclia Rebong and Pres. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in behalf of the SRA – and the subsequent phone call reportedly made by then. Sec. Admin. Baldoz just prior to the POEA’s lifting of the preventive suspension order against the SRA on June 8 last year.



“"We wouldn’t be surprised kung may suholan sa Malacanang, mayroon din sa DOLE o sa POEA. Since the political interference by the powers that be into this case has already been admitted, the full extent of it must be exposed, investigated and the relevant charges filed against those guilty of this shameless abuse of power,”" remarked Santiago, citing the recent bribery expose at the Palace.



At least 32 nurses and a physical therapist have filed complaints at the POEA against the SRA. Currently, a Motion to Appeal the POEA’'s order to dismiss the first batch of complaints (Order dismissal released 4 September 2007) and an illegal recruitment case filed by a second batch (24 November 2006) are still pending.


During the dialogue, the families of the nurses submitted their Unity Statement and demands to POEA Admin. Baldoz.


"“Apart from this dialogue, we commit to intensifying global actions for this campaign through our member organizations and networks. In the US , the National Alliance for Filipino Concerns continues to gather widespread support for the nurses with the very influential NY State Nurses Association being the latest to affirm their support,"” said Santiago .

This October 29th, the NAFCON will lead a picket in front of the NY courthouse where ten of the nurses and their lawyer will face their first hearing on the criminal charges baselessly filed against them by Sentosa. For its part, Migrante International will also lead various actions to highlight the continuing oppression of our kababayans at the hands of Sentosa. #

* a detailed fact sheet is available upon request.



*************************************************



UNITY STATEMENT

By the families of the victims of the Sentosa Recruitment Agency to

the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration

October 25, 2007



We, the families of the victims of the Sentosa Recruitment Agency (SRA), unite to express our alarm and opposition to recent POEA decisions which heighten the injustices committed against our loved ones by the SRA.



We believe that the SRA is clearly guilty of the illegal recruitment charges filed by the 26 nurses and 1 physical therapist against it last year 2006. The filing of similar charges by additional victims of the SRA strengthens this fact.



As such, we demand that the POEA issue an immediate preventive suspension order against the SRA at the minimum and at the maximum, their license should be revoked and their operations shut down. Otherwise, we fear that even more health professionals and their families will be victimized and forced to endure the grief, anguish and hardship that we now live daily.



As with countless other Filipino families, we were filled with great pride when our loved ones finally graduated as nurses and as a physical therapist. Given the worsening economic conditions in our country, we were also hopeful when they were given the opportunity to migrate to the United States as health professionals.



But instead of a better life abroad, our relatives were forced to endure a range of contract violations, discriminatory and unfair labor practices at the hands of the SentosaCare Agency in New York . Unable to suffer in silence and work under breached contracts any longer, they united and resigned from their positions.



It is deplorable that in Sentosa's bid to intimidate and criminalize our relatives, they retaliated by filing trumped-up criminal charges against 10 of the nurses and their lawyer. It is indeed a bitter reality that while the SRA continues to operate in the Philippines and its owner Francis Luyun remains scot-free – our relatives are being criminalized in New York .



We salute the courage of our loved-ones to stand up and speak the truth. We affirm our commitment to forward the campaign for justice for the Sentosa 27++ and all Filipino migrant workers.



Together with the growing number of people's organizations, other community-based groups and supporters of these health professionals from around the world – including the more than 2,000 who have signed an online internet petition for the victims of the SRA, we demand the following from POEA Administrator Rosalinda Baldoz:



1. Immediate preventive suspension of the Sentosa Recruitment Agency;
2. Genuine investigation into the full extent of the SRA's illegal recruitment activities;
3. Permanent revocation of the license of the SRA and shut down of its operations; and
4. Investigation into Malacanang's intervention in the illegal recruitment case through a phone call by then-Sec. Michael Defensor to POEA Admin. Baldoz – which led to the swift lifting of the suspension order against the SRA and the long-delayed release of decisions in the complaints filed by the initial 27 health professionals and a subsequent batch of complainants.



Justice for the Sentosa 27++!

Justice for all Filipino migrant workers!



Signed:



Francis Tulang

Step-father of nurse Noralyn Ortega



Elmer Gamiao

Father of nurse Claudine Gamiao



Maritess Delos Angeles

Sister of nurse Jennifer Lampa



Rhia Maulion

Sister of nurse Rizza Maulion



Mariano Morales

Father of nurse Juliet Anilao



Wilfreda Avila

Mother of nurse Harriet Avila


Mr. Garcia
Father of nurse Carlo Garcia

Kin of dismissed workers push for Sentosa suspension

Kin of dismissed workers push for Sentosa suspension
Posted 11:57pm (Mla time) (Mla time)
By Jerome Aning
Inquirer

MANILA, Philippines -- An alliance of organizations representing the welfare of overseas Filipino workers and their families held a picket at the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration in Mandaluyong City on Thursday to ask for the suspension of operations of the controversial Sentosa Recruitment Agency. [ Read more ]

TOWNHALL GATHERS DAY BEFORE CRIMINAL HEARING FOR AVALON 10/ SENTOSA 27

News Release
October 24, 2007

Reference: Rico Foz, Executive Vice President, National Alliance for Filipino Concerns (NAFCON), email: nafconusa@yahoo.com

TOWNHALL GATHERS DAY BEFORE CRIMINAL HEARING FOR AVALON 10/ SENTOSA 27

New York-- A community townhall meeting in Elmhurst is set for this Sunday, October 28 at 2pm one day before the criminal hearing of 10 out of the 27 nurses now known as the Sentosa 27 will take place in Suffolk County on Monday. The public meeting is being convened by the National Alliance for Filipino Concerns or NAFCON, an alliance of Filipino-American organizations spanning over 23 cities in the United States.

The meeting will stress the nurses situation, deliver campaign updates and call for the need to gather more community support for the nurses, even making transportation arrangements for those who want to travel to the Suffolk County Court the following day to support those criminally-charged.

The Avalon 10, who resigned from the Sentosa-owned Avalon Gardens last year, face retaliatory charges of patient endangerment filed by SentosaCare LLC CEO Bent Philipson. Philipson also pressed charges against the nurses' lawyer, Felix Vinluan, who was approached by the nurses for advise since they had realized Sentosa had not made good on any of its work contracts with them, duping them into coming to the US to work as contract rather than staff nurses for various facilities.

The nurses also endured extreme lengths of time without pay, abuses in the workplace, and a steep patient-nurse ratio reached at high as 60:1.

"This facility charges them with patient endangerment, but it is really the inhumane patient to nurse ratios that endanger the patients," states NAFCON spokesperson Rico Foz.

The Avalon 10 maintain they fully finished their shifts before resigning, and made sure their were other nurses to take over their patients.

A motion to dismiss the criminal charges on insufficient evidence was earlier denied by the Suffolk County Court and the criminal hearing will proceed. Meanwhile NAFCON and the nurses have met with City Councilpeople such as John Liu and will continue to request for a special prosecutor, having little faith they will receive a fair and objective trial with strong anti-immigrant sentiment in Long Island.

Philipson, who is also a political contributor to Charles Schumer, is believed to have used his political connections with big politicians to reverse the previous suspension put on his company's recruitment license in the Philippines by the Philippine Overseas Employment Agency and stall civil charges for discrimination filed by the Sentosa 27 with the US Department of Justice in Washington DC.

NAFCON's campaign for the Sentosa 27 can be accessed online at www.justiceforsentosa27.blogspot.com and an online petition can be viewed at www.petitiononline.com/j4s27

The Sunday townhall will be held at the Philippine Forum office in Elmhurst, 54-05 Seabury Street. Take V/G/R trains to Grand Ave Newtown, exit on the front end of the platform, when you exit on the street turn left on 54th Street until you hit Seabury Street. The office is located on the back street end of the First Presbyterian Church. The townhall is open to the public. For more information call the Philippine Forum at 718-565-8862. ###

FIL-AM COMMUNITY GROUPS TO MEET WITH ABC's EXEC IN NY TO DEMAND MORE CONCRETE MEASURES OF ACCOUNTABILITY AND DISCUSS NATURE OF APOLOGY

Press Release
Washington D.C.
New York,New York
October 4, 2007
Reference:
Arnedo S. Valera, Esquire
Executive Director - MIGRANT HERITAGE COMMISSION (MHC)
Migrantheritage@aol.com
www.migrantheritage.org

Rico Foz
Executive Vice-President - NATIONAL ALLIANCE FOR FILIPINO CONCERNS (NAFCON)
nafconusa@yahoo.com


FIL-AM COMMUNITY GROUPS TO MEET WITH ABC's EXEC IN NY TO DEMAND MORE CONCRETE MEASURES OF ACCOUNTABILITY AND DISCUSS NATURE OF APOLOGY

ABC Television Network facing an impending picket and protest in front of Manhattan's ABC Studios on 77 West 66th Street, NY, NY, October 5 at 6 pm, and October 6 (noontime) at ABC Office, 1100 Wilson Boulevard, Arlington, VA 22209 (Metro Washington D.C.), agreed to meet with the Filipino-American Delegation led by NATIONAL ALLIANCE FOR FILIPINO CONCERNS (NAFCON), PHILIPPINE FORUM AND the MIGRANT HERITAGE COMMISSION (MHC). As mounting protests and international condemnation for the racial slur made by Actress Teri Hatcher in a scene with a doctor in Sunday's episode of "Desperate Housewives" where she remarked: "Okay, before we go any further, can I check those diplomas?Because I would like to make sure they are not from some med school in the Philippines."

Robert Mendez, Esquire, Senior-Vice President for Diversity and Talent Development of ABC NETWORK had a very cordial and pleasant telephone conversation with Arnedo S. Valera, Esquire, Executive Director of the Migrant Heritage Commission (MHC) and legal counsel of NAFCON this evening and both agreed to meet in Trump Plaza Hotel in New York at 5 P.M. tomorrow, October 5th, four blocks away from the organized community picket led by NAFCON and PHILIPPINE FORUM. As a good faith gesture to the Filipino Community, ABC’s Mr. Mendez assured Mr. Valera that the controversial episode will be edited and the scene permanently cut and never again be shown even in re runs, DVD set or any format for sale or rent. Likewise in exchange of goodwill with Mr. Valera, Mr. Mendez agreed to listen to the demands for more concrete measures of accountability to be presented by the Filipino-American Community panel group led by NAFCON, PHILIPPINE FORUM AND THE MIGRANT HERITAGE COMMISSION (MHC). He further promised to seriously address all the demands and concerns of the picketing groups.


The picket in front of Manhattan's ABC Studios at 77 West 66th is supported by the following organizations : The New York Committee for Human Rights in the Philippines, NAFFAA, Anak Bayan, Movement for Free Philippines, FILIPINAS FOR RIGHTS AND EMPOWERMENT (FIRE), KABALIKAT and the SENTOSA ++ NURSES.

The picket in Metropolitan Washington D.C. on Saturday, 6 October is to be led by the Philippine Medical Association of Metro Washington D.C. (PMAMW) and MD to be supported by various Fil-Am organizations, among them are the Philippine Nurses Association (PNA) DC and MD and the MIGRANT HERITAGE COMMISSION (MHC).

Rico Foz of NAFCON, BERNADETTE ELLORIN of PHILIPPINE FORUM, a representative of the medical community and Arnedo S. Valera, Esquire of the MIGRANT HERITAGE COMMISSION will lead the panel that will present the demands of the organized picketing groups to ABC Senior Vice President, Mr. Robert Mendez.

Among the demands to be presented are: ABC Network Broadcast Public Apology and not simply a one paragraph statement; Conduct a complete and thorough investigation of those responsible for writing the reprehensible and racial slur script line; ABC to conduct racial and cultural sensitivity programs for all employees ; ABC should make a categorical and unequivocal statement that it recognizes the significant contribution of Philippine Health Care professionals especially our doctors, nurses and other health care givers to the entire U.S Health Care System because of their competence and high quality of skills; A sincere and proper apology to the Filipino People and the nation and the Fil-Am community groups for disparaging and maligning the Philippine Educational System and the expressed racial prejudice to Filipino doctors and physicians; ABC will commit to make episodes and shows that will depict Filipinos and other minority groups as prominent positive role models of the community and that ABC agrees to support Filipino-American Community projects that will strengthen racial diversity and harmony in local communities and at the national level.

NAFCON promised to organize more peaceful ,continuous and sustained pickets and protests together with various Filipino-American groups and minority groups in the country until the demands are substantially met.

Struggle for Sentosa 27++ Nurses Ongoing

Friends,

FiRE supports the ongoing struggle of the Sentosa 27++ nurses. Please visit one of the many feature articles on a publication called, Newsday, that exposes this burning human trafficking issue.

http://www.newsday.com/news/local/longisland/ny-lisent0923,0,5943.story?page=1&coll=ny_home_rail_headlines

http://www.newsday.com/news/local/ny-linurs0924,0,306823.story

in solidarity,
Filipinas for Rights and Empowerment

JUDGE UNDECIDED, SENTOSA 27 FIGHT NOT OVER

News Release

September 26, 2007





Reference: Rico Foz, Executive Vice President, National Alliance for Filipino Concerns, email: nafconusa @ yahoo.com



JUDGE UNDECIDED, SENTOSA 27 FIGHT NOT OVER

Fil-Am Groups Strengthen Support for Sentosa 27 Amidst Paid-PR Maneuvers of Illegal Recruitment Agency



New York— The 10 criminally-charged Filipino nurses from the Sentosa 27++ campaign withstood paid protestors at a Long Island courthouse this morning for their indictment trial. SentosaCare owner Bent Philipson charged the 10, and their lawyer Felix Vinluan, with patient abandonment and endangerment despite a rebuttal that none of the patients were endangered or harmed. This morning, the Long Island judge came to no decision whether to proceed with the criminal trial or dismiss the charges on lack of evidence.



The 10 were accompanied by strong support from the New York State Nurses Association.

"SentosaCare is pulling out the big guns with its glossy and fake PR machinery to taint our image and distort the truth," states former Sentosa nurse Harriet Avila. "But with all that money, they can pay protesters to hold placards, but they do not have the truth on their side. The truth and facts stand clear, and that cannot be bought or overturned. Sentosa has artificial support."



"We are glad that despite strong and shameless counter-propaganda from the Philipson camp, the judge was able to withstand their glossy PR machinery and not rule in favor of a criminal proceeding. The Filipino-American, labor, and nursing community vows to strengthen our show of support for our victimized nurses," states NAFCON spokesperson Rico Foz.



Foz also appealed to the Suffolk County court to dismiss the false criminal charges, stating that the prolongation of the trial has cost the nurses financial hardship.



"It is no secret that the main reason these nurses are here are to support their families back home, as is the case of all migrant contract workers," Foz added.



NAFCON spearheaded a Justice for the Sentosa 27++ Campaign earlier this year that garnered thousands of support signatures in favor of the nurses. Worldwide endorsers include the National Federation of Filipino-American Associations (NaFFAA), the New York State Nurses Association (NYSNA), the American Nurses Association, the Philippine Nurses Association, Migrante International, the Alliance of Health Workers in the Philippines, and the Gabriela Women's PartyList in the Philippines. A campaign website is accessible at www.justiceforsentosa27.blogspot.com . ###

Sentosa nurses seek audience with Arroyo in New York

http://globalnation.inquirer.net/news/news/view_article.php?article_id=90778

Sentosa nurses seek audience with Arroyo in New York
By Lira Dalangin-Fernandez

NEW YORK -- Several Filipino health professionals, who have become collectively known as the "Sentosa 27++", are seeking an audience with President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo during her visit here to bring to her attention their differences with their recruiter, Sentosa Recruitment Agency.

At the same time, the nurses said they would appeal the order of the Philippine Overseas Employment Agency (POEA) that dismissed the complaint against Sentosa for misrepresentation, contract substitution, and violation of Philippine recruitment rules and regulations.

The POEA ruling that cleared Sentosa was signed September 4.

In a news conference here, Maricelle Dealo, one of the members of Sentosa 27++, said they are seeking an audience with the President through the Philippine Consulate here.

Leandro Lachica of the office of the Consulate General in New York said a request for a meeting between the nurses and the President was being worked on.

However, he said he has yet to get a commitment from the President as Arroyo's schedule here would be very tight.

Arroyo will arrive at the Newark International Airport in New Jersey at 4:00 am then will motor to the Waldorf Towers where she would be staying.

Arroyo will deliver a report at the 62nd UN General Assembly, attend the Clinton Global Initiative, deliver a speech at the Women Leaders Working Group, and meet with several business leaders.

Dealo said she hopes Arroyo can look into the plight of the nurses here.

"As prime exports to the US, it was important that the Philippine government give the nurses protection and ensure that they are not exploited by their recruiters," she told reporters.

Felix Vinluan, lawyer of the Sentosa 27++, said that Philippine-based lawyers assisting the nurses will also file an appeal on the POEA decision within the week.

Vinluan assailed the POEA's ruling, saying it had not been fair to the nurses because of "political intervention."

Quoting an article from Newsday, Vinluan said the preventive suspension on Sentosa was immediately lifted by the POEA following a call by former Presidential Chief of Staff Michael Defensor.

Vinluan said Defensor also admitted that he called the POEA administrator "to give her guidance" after Malacañang received a letter from US Senator Charles Schumer on behalf of Sentosa Care.

Vinluan said he hopes the Senate would push through with an investigation of the Sentosa controversy so that remedial legislation can be done to help the nurses.

The nurses were among the registered nurses brought to the US through the Sentosa Recruitment Agency in November 2005. Five months later, they resigned, saying that the agency had lied to them, exploited them, and forced them to work under unsafe conditions.

Ten of the nurses who had worked at the Avalon Gardens Rehabilitation and Health Care Center were charged by the Suffolk County District Attorney for patient endangerment when they left their work.

Vinluan, who will attend a hearing of the case at 2 p.m. Wednesday (New York time) said he hopes the charges would be dismissed.

Fil-Am Group Slam POEA's Support for Illegal Recruitment

News Release
September 13, 2007

Reference: Rico Foz, Executive Vice President, National Alliance for Filipino Concerns, email: nafconusa @ yahoo.com

Fil-Am Group Slam POEA's Support for Illegal Recruitment

The nationwide alliance of Filipino-American organizations known as the National Alliance for Filipino Concerns or NAFCON, denounced Philippine Overseas Employment Agency (POEA) Administrator Rosalinda Baldoz as an "avid supporter of the illegal human trafficking of Filipino workers at any cost," after the POEA dismissed charges filed last year by the Sentosa 27, Filipino health workers who were illegally recruited to the United States by the Sentosa Recruitment Agency in Ortigas.

The alliance, which has gathered worldwide support for the victims, including the National Federation of Filipino-American Associations (NaFFAA) and Gabriela Women's Partylist, pointed to "political interference" as the culprit behind Baldoz's decision.

"Ms. Baldoz seems to take orders from Americans, rather than Filipinos. We are concerned since the expose that US Senator Charles Schumer called Baldoz asking her to lift the previous license suspension on Sentosa after the 27 filed their complaints," stated NAFCON spokesperson Rico Foz. "It is no secret that Sentosa owner Bent Philipson is a major benefactor to Schumer's campaign. This is tantamount to the support and condonment of illegal recruitment."

NAFCON also slammed misleading claims from the US government that the case was dismissed.

"If Baldoz is basing on the US Department of Justice's (DOJ) so-called ruling in favor of Sentosa, she is completely incompetent. That misleading lie has since been retracted. The Sentosa 27 case is still alive under the DOJ's Office of the Chief Administrative Hearing Officer (OCAHO), after it was stalled under the Office of Special Counsel (OSC)," Foz added.

On his part, Sentosa 27 lawyer Felix Vinluan, who clarified initial media reports that the Sentosa 27 case was still alive with the US DOJ, sounded unconvinced of Baldoz's competency.

"Please do not believe every word that comes from the mouth of some Philippine government officials, who are quick and eager enough to share the misinformation that the nurses complaints have been dismissed. These Philippine government officials are just showing their true colors. They do not really serve the Filipino people. Because of money and influence, they are willing to turn a blind eye to the discrimination being committed against their fellow Filipinos," Vinluan ended.

For more information on the Justice for Sentosa 27++ Campaign, visit www.justiceforsentosa27.blogspot.com. ##

GABRIELA SEEKS PROBE A POEA DISMISSES SENTOSA CASE

NEWS RELEASE
13 SEPTEMBER 2007

For Reference: Rep. Luzviminda Ilagan 0920-9213221
Jang Monte (Public Information Officer) 09178226635

GABRIELA SEEKS PROBE A POEA DISMISSES SENTOSA CASE

As migrant workers, nurses and health professionals in the United
States protest over the Philippine Overseas Employment Agency's
dismissal of the case filed by the Sentosa 27, the women's partylist
group GABRIELA called for a Congressional inquiry on the alleged
irregularities of the POEA's handling of the case.

GABRIELA Women's Party Representative Luzviminda Ilagan has filed
House Resolution 181 which seeks to look into the POEA's arbitrary
lifting of the suspension order against the recruitment agency,
Sentosa, despite the complaints raised by 27 health professionals in
the United States .

Rep. Ilagan said that when the inquiry begins, they will thresh out
not just the suspension order but they shall likewise look into
irregularities in the recent POEA decision. "For one, POEA decided
to dismiss the case a year after the complaint has been filed when
in fact POEA rules and regulations dictate that decisions on illegal
recruitment cases should be relieased within 90 days."

Last April 2006, 26 nurses and a physical therapist filed charges
against the Sentosa-affiliated healthcare facilities that
individually sponsored them, and with which the nurses signed
employment contracts in the United States. They also filed charges
against Bent Philipson and Francis Luyun. Philipson is the common
COO and Managing Partner of the Sentosa-affiliated facilities while
Luyun is the proprietor of the Philippine-based Sentosa Recruitment
Agency. Luyun also works as international recruiter of the New York-
based Prompt Nursing Employment Agency, doing business as Sentosa
Services.

The GABRIELA solon also questioned the alleged political
interference which occurred, referring to the call made by US
Senator Charles Schumer to the POEA to lift its license suspension
against Sentosa. "There are so many issues that needs clarifications
in the Sentosa case."

"We have an economy that is surviving because of the remittances
being sent by Overseas Filipinos, including the nurses victimized by
scheming agencies like Sentosa. That we are unable to protect them
from illegal recruiters is a shame and guarantee just compensation
for the work that they do is a shame. Indeed it is high time that we
take action."#

US DOJ's So-Called Case Dismissal Untrue, Lawyer Says

News Release
September 6, 2007


Reference: Rico Foz, Executive Vice President, National Alliance for Filipino Concerns, email: nafconusa @ yahoo.com



SENTOSA 27 CASE STILL ALIVE-- NAFCON
US DOJ's So-Called Case Dismissal Untrue, Lawyer Says

New York-- The 27 Filipino healthcare professionals, victimized by illegal recruitment from the Philippines to the United States, known as the Sentosa 27 ++ clarified that their discrimination case filed with the US Department of Justice against the Sentosa Recruitment Agency were not only false, but "maneuvered by Sentosa's legal spin team to obstruct justice and build-up public opinion against them."

According to Sentosa 27 lawyer Felix Vinluan, "The reports are misleading and untrue. Far from being dismissed, the discrimination cases are now with the Office of the Chief Administrative Hearing Officer (OCAHO)."

On April 6, 2006, twenty six nurses and one physical therapist filed discrimination charges against the Sentosa-affiliated healthcare facilities that individually sponsored them, and with which the nurses signed employment contracts, as well as against Bent Philipson and Francis Luyun. Philipson is the common COO and Managing Partner of the Sentosa-affiliated facilities. Luyun is the proprietor of the Philippine-based Sentosa Recruitment Agency. Luyun also works as international recruiter of the New York-based Prompt Nursing Employment Agency, doing business as Sentosa Services.

The discrimination charges were filed before the US DOJ's Office of Special Counsel, (OSC), because the nurses were not directly hired by their respective petitioning employers on account of their immigrant or citizenship status. Instead, they claim they were made agency nurses of Prompt Nursing Employment Agency.

When it became apparent after several months of proposing extensions periods, that that OSC was simply stalling on addressing the case, the 27, without waiting for the OSC, directly filed the discrimination charges before the OCAHO.

"The OCAHO, under Administrative Law Judge Ellen K. Thomas, has taken jurisdiction over the discrimination complaints. The discrimination cases are no longer with the OSC," Vinluan added. "The headline of the news report misleads the public into believing that the cases filed against the Philippine-based Sentosa Recruitment Agency had been dismissed."

"We are disappointed that the US DOJ OSC did not take the victims' case very seriously enought to handle it expediently. But we are glad that the nurses took action and filed with the OCAHO, when it became apparent that nothing was moving forward under the OSC. We believe justice will be served as long as the world community stands behind the Sentosa 27. Theirs is a brave and legitimate fight," stated Rico Foz of the National Alliance of Filipino Concerns or NAFCON.

Foz also referred to the previous political interference of US Senator Charles Schumer who called the Philippine Overseas Employment Agency (POEA) to lift its license suspension against Sentosa after the nurses filed a complaint with POEA administrator Rosalinda Baldoz.

"We cannot rule out that political interference, and Philipson himself, are behind these stall tactics," Foz added.

NAFCON, a nationwide Filipino-American alliance working with the Sentosa 27, initiated a campaign that garnered supporters worldwide in favor of the Sentosa 27's case against Philipson. The campaign also gathered thousands of support signatures at www.petitiononline.com/j4s27. A Justice for the Sentosa 27 website can be accessed at www.justiceforsentosa27.blogspot.com .

"The Sentosa 27 have a strong case. They have the truth on their side. These political maneuvers are a testament to how desperate Sentosa and Philipson are to keep their heads above water against the massive public opinion and bad press snowballing against their operations," Foz ended. "


The Sentosa 27++ nurses, are likewise awaiting developments on the Senate resolution filed by Senator Panfilo M. Lacson calling for the investigation of Sentosa Recruitment Agency, and which resolution was referred to the Committee on Labor chaired by Senator Jinggoy Estrada. ###

Fil-Am Group Welcomes Senate Probe on Illegal Recruitment Agency

News Release
August 22, 2007

Reference: Rico Foz, Executive Vice President, National Alliance for Filipino Concerns, email: nafconusa @ yahoo.com

Drop All Charges Against the Sentosa 27! -NAFCON
Fil-Am Group Welcomes Senate Probe on Illegal Recruitment Agency

The Filipino-American alliance known as the National Alliance for Filipino Concerns or NAFCON acknowledged today that while they welcomed the Philippine Senate probe on the case of the Sentosa 27, they demanded the current criminal and civil charges be dropped against the 27 healthcare professionals who were falsely contracted to work in New York for various facilities that differed from the employers they signed to work for.

The alliance, which took charge of the case this year along with the Sentosa 27 themselves and their lawyer Felix Vinluan, has been coordinating an international campaign along with various nurses associations, labor groups, immigrant rights advocates and Philippine-based groups calling for justice and a shutdown of both Sentosa Care LLC in Long Island, New York and Sentosa Recruitment Agency at the Ortigas Center in Manila.

A campaign blog and online petition garnering thousands of support signatures are available at www.justiceforsentosa27.blogspot.com.

"In light of the fact that Philippine Senator Panfilo Lacson is calling for a probe on the fraudulent operations of the Sentosa Recruitment Agency, where clients have well expressed their disdain over false contractualization, and the inactivity of the Philippine Overseas Employment Agency on the matter, we firmly believe the Sentosa 27 and their lawyer, Felix Vinluan, should be relieved of all civil and criminal charges that have been put upon them," states Rico Foz, Executive Vice President of the National Alliance for Filipino Concerns or NAFCON.

Upon moving to the United States and realizing that none of the terms of their contracts pushed through, the 26 nurses and 1 physical therapist filed a civil case with the Labor Attache in Washington DC. The move prompted a fierce backlash from Sentosa owner and manager Bent Philipson to file counter civil charges against the 27 for breach of contract.

After enduring months of deplorable working conditions under false and violated contracts, ten of the Sentosa 27 resigned from their posts. The move caused a bigger stir, prompting Philipson to press criminal charges against the 10 for so-called patient endangerment. The 10 nurses maintain they did not place their patients in danger or plot for a collective "walk-out", but in fact made sure the nurses from the next shift were at hand. The nurses also reported that the working conditions under Sentosa required inhumane and impossible patient to nurse ratios that climbed as high as 100:1.

"This is not as much about the possible criminal activity but about preserving quality patient care for the Sentosa facilities in New York," states Foz continued. "With such high patient-to-nurse ratios and work conditions that aggravate the welfare of nurses--- backwages, long hours, no overtime-- nurses are impaired from performing optimumly and patient care is jeopardized."

"As Senator Lacson pushes forward with his investigation of the delay of action with the Philippine Overseas Employment Agency on this matter, another necessary investigation must still be on the political interference of Mike Defensor and US Senator Charles Schumer for obstructing the avenues to justice initially pursued by the Sentosa 27 last year," Foz added.

NAFCON has been seeking public clarification from the offices of Defensor and Schumer for their well-documented roles in calling the POEA Administrator Rosalinda Baldoz urging a lift of the suspension she issued on Sentosa after the Sentosa 27 filed case against the agency last year.

"The saddest part is illegal recruitment is not only commonplace from the Philippines, but that these types of criminal agencies are supported and protected by US and Philippine government officials, exposing a deeper and more systemic malaise for the export of our healthcare professionals that the Philippine government so prides itself on," Foz ended.

A court date for the criminally charged 10 is set for tomorrow, August 23 in Riverhead, NY.

Other vocal US-based supporters of the Justice for the Sentosa 27 Campaign include the National Federation of Filipino American Associations (NaFFAA), the New York State Nurses Association (NYSNA) and the American Nurses Association (ANA). ###

Justice for Sentosa 27++ Migrante hits Malacanang over illegal recruitment of RP nurses to US

News Release

July 20, 2007
For reference: Connie Bragas-Regalado

Justice for Sentosa 27++
Migrante hits Malacanang over illegal recruitment of RP nurses to US

With Congress set to open in a few days, an alliance of progressive organizations composed of Filipino migrants and their families today called for a congressional investigation into the plight of the Filipino nurses in New York illegally recruited by the Sentosa Recruitment Agency.

"We are working with the Gabriela Women's Partylist and approaching other pro-OFW legislators to ensure that as soon as Congress opens, a resolution is forwarded to investigate the culpability of Sentosa and Philippine government officials in violating the rights of these nurses. This campaign for the Sentosa 27++ exposes only the tip of the iceberg of abuse suffered by health care workers and other migrants under Arroyo," says Connie Bragas-Regalado, Migrante International Chairperson.

The Campaign for Justice for the Sentosa 27++ is an international campaign launched in the US by the National Alliance for Filipino Concerns. In the Philippines, Migrante International, the Alliance for Health Workers and the Health Alliance for Democracy are also forwarding this campaign.

"We are deeply concerned over the conditions of the twenty-six nurses and one physical therapist recruited by Sentosa. Clearly, Sentosa is guilty of contract violations, violating human trafficking laws and involuntary servitude. Many of the promises made to the nurses were broken shortly after their arrival in New York," she added.

Sentosa Recruitment Agency is run by a certain Francis Luyun, who also works as Director of International Recruitment for the New York-based Sentosa Care, LLC owned by a Brent Philipson.

"In particular, the role then Sec. Mike Defensor played in having a POEA preventive suspension order against Sentosa lifted must be exposed," said Bragas-Regalado.
Citing the Sentosa 27++ fact sheet, Bragas-Regalado explained that the suspension against Sentosa was lifted on June 8, 2006 less than two weeks after it was ordered. The lifting came after US Senator Schumer interceded for Sentosa by writing POEA Administrator Rosalinda Baldoz and then Labor Sec. Patricia Sto. Tomas. Then Presidential Chief of Staff Mike Defensor is also reported to have called POEA Admin. Baldoz the day before she signed the order to lift the suspension.

The fact sheet states that one of the owners of Sentosa in the United States is a big political contributor of US Senator Schumer.

"As we approach Arroyo's State of the Nation Address, it is evident that the exploitation and oppression of Filipino migrants continues to heighten – even among the ranks of the highly-skilled and professional workers. Instead of relying on the export of people to prop up the country's ailing economy, a policy geared towards creating long-term viable jobs in the Philippines is our demand," she said, noting that in the immediate, the baseless charges against the Sentosa nurses in the US must be withdrawn. #

To gather greater international support, an internet petition on the Sentosa 27++ campaign can be found at www. petitiononline.com/j4s27/petition.html

RECAP: 2007 Philippine Independence Day Parade

The NAFCON (National Alliance for Filipino Concers) contingent
bore our different member organization flags: Migrante, Katutubo, FiRE, Anakbayan, Sandiwa, and the Queer flag. The different colors of each flag was stark amidst the sea of maroon shirts that donned "Justice for the Sentosa 27++" and "Justice for All Overseas Contract Workers".

Our contingent projected the calls supporting one of the campaigns FiRE is involved in currently, demanding to "Shut Down the Sentosa Agency!" and rightful benefits and justice for all the nurses and healthcare workers exploited by the Sentosa Agency.

Sisters from past Pinay Power Brunches, Joseline and Jen, joined us in the march proudly holding banners, flags and passing out hats! We loved that we had more women chanting with us side by side!

As our contingent continued down the parade and into the main grandstand, we were greeted by the parade onlookers and the grandstand members with standing ovations and feverish applause! We chanted "Ang Tao, Ang Bayan, Ngayon Ay Lumalaban" loudly as we walked in full formation. The feeling was electric.

After the we finished marching, the NAFCON contingent of more than 75 community members collected ourselves and unleashed a mean "hoy-hoy" fashioned after the South African anti-apartheid chant, "toyi-toyi" (thanks to David Canham from NJ!). With the energy running high and the collision of music, beats and dancing from the ati-atihan contingent the parade became a street synergy of Filipino culture and political chants. All of us were dancing in the streets together!

Yes, flag dances were involved. Yes, street silhouettes were involved. And yes, we're classy like that.

We were all pretty hungry after and hunted for good bbq. We did a quick wardrobe change with the shirts Kimmie made (ooh, oh so geeed up!) slaving over a silkscreen all day and all night..and it was so worth it. More shirts coming..promise. We ran into so many folks including but not limited to Corinne aka Calamity and also the youth we work with at Philippine Forum! Woo!

At the end of the day, after flyering and chanting and parading, the rain came and everyone walked away with that good kind of tired.

We did that damn thang and celebrated our culture and our pride in our people by uniting on the issues of our communit!

Mabuhay ang Migranteng Pilipino!
Mabuhay ang Sentosa Nurses!
Mabuhay ang Kababaihan!

Launch National Week of Action Against Illegal Recruitment Agency

News Release
May 24, 2007

Reference: Rico Foz, Executive Vice President, National Alliance for Filipino Concerns (NAFCON), email: nafconusa@yahoo.com

Sentosa 27+ March for Justice, Launch National Week of Action Against Illegal Recruitment Agency

New York-- Upon the launching of the Justice for the Sentosa 27 campaign by the abused Filipino healthworkers and the National Alliance for Filipino Concerns (NAFCON), more victims of abuse and exploitation at the hands of the Sentosa Care LLC, a healthcare management company based in Woodmere, New York are coming forward and joining the fight against illegal recruitment and fair and equal treatment for overseas contract workers.

According to Sentosa 27+ lawyer Felix Vinluan, at least 10 more Filipino healthcare workers have come to his office with similar stories of fraudulent recruitment by Sentosa Care LLC
and have signified their willingness to join the Justice for the Sentosa 27+ campaign.

The national campaign initiative for justice launched last May 6th during National Nurses Week will also embark on a National Week of Action for the Sentosa 27+ beginning on Sunday, June 3rd until Sunday June 10th. Actions in support of the 26 nurses and 1 physical therapist from the Philippines will begin with a Sentosa 27+ contingent that will march during the Philippine Independence Day Celebration in New York City on June 3rd. Solidarity actions are also for San Bernardino, San Francisco, and Chicago under the banner of NAFCON.

"We want our nurses to know that we support them all the way. Filipino nurses and other healthcare professionals are part of the backbone of this country's healthcare system. We will not back down until justice is served," stated NAFCON Vice President Rico Foz.

The alliance of Filipino organizations in the US spanning 23 cities has issued demands along with the Sentosa 27+ for all criminal and civil charges against the healthworkers to be dropped, for immediate compensation of all backwages and due overtime pay, for an investigation of Sentosa Care LLC and its owner Bent Philipson against anti-trafficking laws and involuntary servitude, a permanent suspension of Sentosa recruitment license in the Philippines, and clarification from the offices of US Senator Charles Schumer and former Philippine Chief of Staff Michael Defensor on their roles in having the previous order or suspension of the Sentosa Recruitment Agency by the Philippine Overseas Employment Agency (POEA) lifted last year.

An online petition supporting these demands can be found at www.petitiononline.com/j4s27/

A public information campaign blog with a primer and updates on the issue can also be found at www.justiceforsentosa27.blogspot.com.

The campaign has also garnered support from various cause-oriented groups in the Philippines including the Alliance of Health Workers, Migrante International, BAYAN Philippines, and the Health Alliance for Democracy.

The Sentosa Recruitment Agency at the Ortigas Center in Manila continues recruitment trained Filipino healthworkers under so-called employer contracts with various nursing facilities in the New York Area. There are over 4000 outstanding job orders with Sentosa in the Philippines.

The original 26 nurses and 1 physical therapist that comprise the Sentosa 27 came forward when none of the terms of their contracts with Sentosa were recognized. A class action suit against Philipson was filed last year for workplace discrimination.

For more information, email NAFCON at nafconusa@yahoo.com. ###

6/3: Philippine Independence Day Parade!

Please join us!

Sentosa 27 Online DEVELOPMENTS!

PLEASE SIGN THE PETITION DEMANDING JUSTICE FOR THE SENTOSA 27 AT www.petitiononline.com/j4s27/.


The Sentosa 27 discussion guide is availablle on this website at: http://firenyc.blogspot.com/2007/05/facts-about-justice-for-sentosa-27.html

A PDF version of the discussion guide is also available for download at: http://fire.nyc.googlepages.com/sentosa_factsheet.pdf (Right clisk, then "Save As") to make available to print and pass out.