diplomatic outposts and in difficulties in pursuing claims even domestically. The limited awareness of OFWs of their rights is a factor to some degree although even overcoming this would not necessarily surmount these other disadvantages they face. xxtrx#ff inl I Host country legal **&wwzx .-.'.. r.r*$l#.Y.' contexts may themselves even be formally tilted against OFWs. In the Middle East for instance OFWs leaving their employer or job site - even if they have valid grounds for resigning - are charged with absconding and considered to have violated immigration laws in their host country. OFWs cannot but rely on approaching Philippine Embassies and Consulates as well as other concerned agencies such as the POEA, OWWA, DOLE, DFAand DOJ. Reports are rife though of Filipinos frequently being advised by Philippine authorities to remain with their employers even under unjust, exploitative and abusive work conditions. If they still run away and seek refuge, government officials are still more inclined to mediate amicably towards settlements returning OFWs to their employers instead of addressing the OFWs' core concerns. Runaways are also even made to pay deployment costs in exchange for their release and eventual repatriation Even on the most basic matter of legal support, there are reports of OFWs not even being able to communicate with the lawyers provided them which reduces this legal representation to a token effort that is unable to help them adequatelypress their case or prepare their defense. Detained OFWs are not regularly visited and informed of the status of their cases by embassy and consulate officials, nor are their families at home informed and updated by the OUMWA. The accused and their families often do not even have access to legal documents regarding the OFW victim's case. Repatriated OFWs can technically pursue complaints against their recruitment agencies through OWWAs mediation mechanisms. OFWs can also file complaints such as on overcharging of placement fees at POEA, and can file monetary claims at the NLRC. These have their own difficulties however with cases at OWWA for instance almost always having to be pursued in the National Capital Region (NCR) which is costly and can be distant, hence inaccessible, for migrants coming from the provinces. OWWA only allows them to stay at government-provided hostels for five days. OFWs are further discouraged by tedious bureaucratic processes and demands in government agencies. The process is also bogged down by the huge backlog of unresolved cases in the system: in 39