Arnisito Gaviola, Antonio Laroya and Ermie Zotomayor hope to remain in Canada after being faced with the possibility of deportation back to the Philippines. (HANDOUT)
It’s judgment day for the three migrant workers from the Philippines who are seeking to remain on Canadian soil.
Arnisito Gaviola, Antonio Laroya and Ermie Zotomayor, known as the ‘Three Amigos,’ have been looking for residency status in the country ever since being detained in June on improper paperwork relating to their employment at a gas station in Thompson.
The three men were originally scheduled to learn their fate in Winnipeg court on December 23, but their hearings have been put over several times since then, leaving them in limbo. This past weekend, a fundraiser was held in their honour to assist them financially, given they can no longer work legally.
Now barring any unforeseen events, the men are scheduled to appear in court this morning in three separate hearings from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Lawyer David Matas says that the hearing is “just a formality” and his clients fate rests with the Temporary Resident Permit applications they submitted to Citizenship and Immigration Canada.
A news conference is expected to follow the hearings.
