OFW group to probe Pinay's Saudi rape tale
MANILA, Philippines - The group which broke the news about the Filipina allegedly held hostage, raped and videotaped by four men including her employer in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) is set to conduct an investigation to determine why the victim recanted her earlier statement.
Migrante International, an advocacy group for overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), is determined to find out what pushed the Filipina to recant her story.
“Hindi madali na gumawa ng ganoon storya at sabihin mo pa sa asawa mo. Kung gawa-gawa man ‘yon, ano ang nagtulak sa kanya (It’s not easy to fabricate a story like that much more, inform your husband about it. If the story was indeed made up, what pushed her to do it)?" Migrante International chairperson Connie Bragas-Regalado told GMANews.TV in an interview on Friday.
Although their main concern was to save the “victim" from her employer and facilitate her immediate repatriation - which they have achieved, Regalado said they would like to seek the truth about the incident.
"May masama bang ginawa sa kanya ang employer nya o wala? Kung may ginawa, bakit nya binawi? Bakit walang transparency sa dialogue ng embassy officials at employer (Did her employer do something bad to her? If the employer did harm her, what made her recant? Why is there no transparency in the dialogues between the embassy officials and the employer)?" Regalado said.
The group’s chapter in the Middle East sent an e-mail to GMANews.TV last May 23 about the incident.
According to the letter, the victim’s husband sought Migrante’s help after receiving a call from his wife claiming that she was raped by her employer and four of his friends while one even videotaped the act.
Included in the email is Migrante’s letter request addressed to Philippine Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Antonio Villamor stating, "to follow up letter to a previous one sent to your office dated May 21, 2008 by our Migrante-Saudi Arabi Chapter Chairperson Andrew Ociones concerning a fellow OFW who was allegedly raped by four Arab including her employer in Qatiff, Eastern Province."
On her privilege speech last Monday, Sen Loren Legarda revealed the plight of the alleged rape victim and even filed a resolution urging the Senate Committee on labor and employment to conduct a full probe.
The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) however said on Thursday that the Filipina made a written retraction dated May 26, and is now back in the country.
The Filipina reportedly asserted that her allegations were fabricated and mere products of her "imagination." The OFW arrived in Manila Wednesday afternoon.
In good terms with the employer?
She also acknowledged in that statement her receipt of full payment of the salaries due her amounting to 6,700 riyals, and expressed her gratitude for the embassy's assistance.
Villamor dispatched a consular officer and an interpreter to Al-Qatief — some 700 kilometers from Riyadh to investigate the case and assist the OFW.
Upon representations of the embassy officer, the Al-Qatief Police summoned the employer on May 26 to present the OFW and shed light on the case.
The employer agreed to let the OFW leave and to shoulder the repatriation costs.
Migrante’s chairperson added that the group is still waiting for the report of their Baguio chapter which is in-charge of the case. The unnamed Filipina was said to be an Ifugao from the Quirino province. - GMANews.TV
Migrante International, an advocacy group for overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), is determined to find out what pushed the Filipina to recant her story.
“Hindi madali na gumawa ng ganoon storya at sabihin mo pa sa asawa mo. Kung gawa-gawa man ‘yon, ano ang nagtulak sa kanya (It’s not easy to fabricate a story like that much more, inform your husband about it. If the story was indeed made up, what pushed her to do it)?" Migrante International chairperson Connie Bragas-Regalado told GMANews.TV in an interview on Friday.
Although their main concern was to save the “victim" from her employer and facilitate her immediate repatriation - which they have achieved, Regalado said they would like to seek the truth about the incident.
"May masama bang ginawa sa kanya ang employer nya o wala? Kung may ginawa, bakit nya binawi? Bakit walang transparency sa dialogue ng embassy officials at employer (Did her employer do something bad to her? If the employer did harm her, what made her recant? Why is there no transparency in the dialogues between the embassy officials and the employer)?" Regalado said.
The group’s chapter in the Middle East sent an e-mail to GMANews.TV last May 23 about the incident.
According to the letter, the victim’s husband sought Migrante’s help after receiving a call from his wife claiming that she was raped by her employer and four of his friends while one even videotaped the act.
Included in the email is Migrante’s letter request addressed to Philippine Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Antonio Villamor stating, "to follow up letter to a previous one sent to your office dated May 21, 2008 by our Migrante-Saudi Arabi Chapter Chairperson Andrew Ociones concerning a fellow OFW who was allegedly raped by four Arab including her employer in Qatiff, Eastern Province."
On her privilege speech last Monday, Sen Loren Legarda revealed the plight of the alleged rape victim and even filed a resolution urging the Senate Committee on labor and employment to conduct a full probe.
The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) however said on Thursday that the Filipina made a written retraction dated May 26, and is now back in the country.
The Filipina reportedly asserted that her allegations were fabricated and mere products of her "imagination." The OFW arrived in Manila Wednesday afternoon.
In good terms with the employer?
She also acknowledged in that statement her receipt of full payment of the salaries due her amounting to 6,700 riyals, and expressed her gratitude for the embassy's assistance.
Villamor dispatched a consular officer and an interpreter to Al-Qatief — some 700 kilometers from Riyadh to investigate the case and assist the OFW.
Upon representations of the embassy officer, the Al-Qatief Police summoned the employer on May 26 to present the OFW and shed light on the case.
The employer agreed to let the OFW leave and to shoulder the repatriation costs.
Migrante’s chairperson added that the group is still waiting for the report of their Baguio chapter which is in-charge of the case. The unnamed Filipina was said to be an Ifugao from the Quirino province. - GMANews.TV
Comments