OFW cries hold-up, harassment from Awang porters

COTABATO CITY - This is something officials of Datu Odin Sinsuat, Maguindanao, the police andeven the military's 6th Infantry Division, to look into.A returning Overseas Filipino Worker from Japan has appealed to barangay municipal officials of Datu Odin Sinsuat, Maguindanao to look into what she described as robbery and harassment by men working as porters at the corner of National Highway and the road leading to the Awang Airport.The OFW who asked not to be named said she was harassed and threatened by men who who demanded P150 labor fee for carrying her luggage from the tricycle into a waiting passenger jeep beside the national highway.She told DXMS Radyo Bida that several porters helped her load her traveling bags from the tricycle to the jeep although she did not ask for it. What? For carrying my bags from the pedicab to the jeep which was few steps away would cost me P150? she said.When she refused, the men threatened her with physical injuries. This is broad daylight hold-up, she complained. The man told her there were many porters who will share from the P150 porter fee.Worst, the jeepney driver who ferry her from the Crossing Awang welcome rotunda to down town propercharged her P350, an amount she said was exorbitant.The woman said she learned there were many other plane passengers arriving in Cotabato City and Maguindanao who experienced the same. This experience,I will not return home using this airport, I will take the Davao airport from Manila, she said.She called on the Mayor Ombra Sinsuatof Datu Odin, the barangay chairpeson of Barangay Awang and even to Maj. Gen. Edmundo Pangilinan of 6th ID to look into this matter.Insp. Jonathan de Gracia, Datu Odin Sinsuat police chief, admitted his office has received similar complaint in the past.Porters have been banned near and around the welcome rotunda. He said plane passengers who have the same experienced are advised to file complaint.