Former Speaker Oscar C. Rasa, the group’s spokesman and adviser, said they are hoping that the federal government will grant special status for these parents for “humanitarian reasons.”
“All indigenous groups are culturally and religiously inclined to support anything that requires compassion and this is the case where we have to demonstrate that we will help when help is needed,” Rasa told Variety.
During their group’s meeting on Monday, Rasa said, members expressed concern for the plight of guest workers who have children with disabilities.
Irene Tantiado, Coalition of United Workers (NMI) president, said the contracts of some of these parents have not been renewed and they will be forced to leave the CNMI.
However, the assistance provided to their children in the CNMI is not available in their home countries.
Rasa said their group will also ask the religious sector for support.
“I believe the church is more than willing to join with us in addressing this issue,” he said. “This needs serious consideration. They are children of God and they have to be protected.”
According to Rasa, “It is not the sacrifice that you make that counts but it’s the mercy and compassion you have within us that makes us human and make us children of God.”
