Truth & Justice for Fely Garcia

Statement of DAMAYAN Migrant Workers Association

Damayan Migrant Workers Association expresses our deepest condolences
to the children and family members of Felisa "Fely" Sales Garcia, a
middle-aged Filipina migrant worker who was found dead during the
morning of Wednesday, March 14 in her Bronx residence where she rented
a room. Garcia worked as a domestic worker, taking care of an elderly
couple in the Bronx. As fellow Filipina domestic workers, we express
our outrage over her death and call for a thorough investigation of
the conditions leading to her alleged suicide.

As an organization of mostly Filipino women domestic workers who have
families to support in the Philippines, we share in the grief of
Fely's children, all of who remain in their hometown of Barangay
Dacanlao, Calaca, Batangas. As per reports from our membership,
Fely's children do not believe that their mother could have committed
suicide. DAMAYAN echoes the cry of the children and express full
support in exposing the truth.

DAMAYAN express our sadness and anger over this tragedy. Fely's death
provides a glimpse into the vulnerable experiences of Filipino
domestic workers in the US. She was a widow who was forced to make a
courageous decision, be uprooted from her homeland and risk living and
working abroad in isolating, dehumanizing and abusive conditions.
DAMAYAN members understand the hardship Fely experienced as a migrant
domestic worker. Domestic workers lack protection by the US
government and are often overwhelmed with working long hours, low
wages, lack of benefits, racism and outright disrespect.

Fely is a sister among the millions of Filipina domestic workers who
sacrificed separation from her family in search of a solution to the
economic crisis that is shouldered primarily by the toiling Filipino
people. Everyday, there are over 3,000 Filipinos who migrate from the
Philippines. They will migrate to more than 186 different countries,
including the US. Of the almost one million who migrate every year,
three out of four of them are women. Filipino overseas worker
remitted more than $12.5 billion dollars in 2006, keeping the
Philippine economy afloat and sustaining the families directly
affected by the economic, political and social crisis.

We grief for the loss of Fely as we grief for those whom have endure
similar conditions of sacrifice, hardship and abuse. We are calling
for a full and speedy investigation to ascertain the facts surrounding
her death. What would drive a loving mother to take her own life and
forsake the future of her children?

We call on the Philippine Consulate to give full support to a modern
hero who has supported her family and has helped prop up the
Philippine economy with dollar remittances. We call on the
Philippine Consulate to ensure a thorough investigation of Fely's
case. We call on the Philippine Consulate to facilitate the
reunification of Fely's body with her children in the Philippines.

We call on the Filipino community, especially domestic workers, to
help not just by giving financial contribution to the family but to
support our call for truth and justice over Fely's death.

Finally, we call to action all concerned people to examine the case of
Fely and all Filipino migrant domestic workers who are driven to
foreign countries and become susceptible to harsh and abusive
conditions.

If you have any information related to her death, her employment and
her family here and in Batangas, please contact DAMAYAN Migrant
Workers Association at 212 546 6057 or contact@damayanmigrants.org.

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