PRESIDENT Benigno Aquino is seriously concerned about the safety of Filipinos in Taiwan but the government is not ready to elevate the issue of harassment of Filipino workers to an international body.

"Of course, the President was very concerned about these reports. But he did make the cautionary note that these reports should be verified by us independently, and that if we do verify them at the soonest—at the juncture that we do verify these incidents, that we should immediately render assistance," deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte told Palace reporters yesterday.

Valte also said that the Philippine government is banking on pronouncements from Taiwanese leaders that they will provide security to OFWs who are reportedly receiving the brunt of the outrage over the death of a Taiwanese fisherman in disputed waters earlier this month.

"They have already manifested their intent to do so. We hope that with the move, we hope that these incidents will not be repeated again," Valte said.

She added that although the government has already confirmed two incidents of violence against OFWs in Taiwan, the focus right now is "to lend the assistance necessary" to these migrant workers.

Valte, however, said the government cannot stop any private individual if he or she wants to seek the help of an international body to deal with these reported incidents of violence against OFWs.

Valte likewise said that the President is not about to send a new emissary to Taiwan for now while the National Bureau of Investigation is investigating the killing of the Taiwanese fisherman.

The Palace official said the Manila Economic and Cultural Office (MECO) "still continues to perform their duties" to coordinate with counterparts and provide assistance to Filipinos even if its chair Amadeo Perez and MECO managing director and resident representative Antonio Basilio are back in Manila.

"He (President Aquino) said that it would not be prudent for us at this particular time considering that the investigation into the incident is still ongoing and to send an emissary at this point—an additional one apart from the ones that we already have—would effectively be forcing that person to engage in speculation knowing that the investigation is still ongoing. So again, not at this point," Valte said.

The Palace is counting on the Taiwanese government to help ensure the safety of Filipinos in Taiwan, hoping that the reported incidents of violence against Filipinos there would not be repeated.

Malacañang also renewed its call for calm.

"We do appeal for calm. It will not do anybody well to say any words or to take any measures that would further exacerbate the tension," Valte said.

The Palace insisted Aquino has not sanctioned a joint investigation with Taiwan, clarifying a claim of Taiwan that Basilio had written a letter dated May 10 expressing an alleged commitment to a joint investigation.

Valte said while she has not read the alleged letter, this was not cleared by the President.

The President "has taken the necessary steps" to clarify the transmission of the letter, Valte said.

"Only the last letter that was transmitted to them was authorized by the President and I understand the contents of the letter were very precise. It was emphasized there, it was made very clear that the President had already tasked the National Bureau of Investigation -- which in our view has already proven their impartiality... and their objectivity in past investigations they have been tasked by the President to undertake," Valte said.

According to the Commission on Filipinos Overseas, there were over 93,800 Filipinos working in Taiwan as of December 2011.

Source: http://www.journal.com.ph/index.php/news/top-stories/50756-ofws-safety-in-taiwan-worries-pnoy