BERLIN, Germany - Vice President Jejomar Binay could not hide his anger at a well-attended meeting with the Filipino community in Berlin.
He was upbeat at the start, citing the 7.8 percent economic growth rate attained by the Aquino government this first quarter of 2013.
But his face turned to sadness when asked what steps he had done to address what was perceived as "unfair or shabby treatment" of workers in Taiwan following the May 9 shooting of a Taiwanese fisherman in Philippine waters.
For the first time, Binay admits the Filipino workers are not treated well even if most of them are professionals.
However, he claims the overseas Filipino workers need the jobs despite glaring abuses from certain Taiwanese employers.
Binay remains hopeful though that the two separate investigations conducted by the Taiwanese government and the Philippine National Bureau of Investigation will bear almost or if not, the same findings.
He is still giving the Taiwanese probers the benefit of the doubt.
While in Germany, Binay also met with the German foreign and labor ministers.
He is set to meet also with ship owners in Hamburg and discuss the plight of Filipino seafarers.
http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/global-filipino/06/06/13/binay-taiwans-economy-will-collapse-if-ofws-leave