OFW raped by employer's son in Bahrain rescued by embassy


Posted at 04/10/2015 10:04 AM

MANAMA, Bahrain - A distressed household service worker (HSW) in Bahrain who posted a video on Facebook appealing for help was finally rescued by the Philippine Embassy on Thursday.
The three-minute video that was posted in the morning of April 9 immediately went viral, sending the Filipino community in Bahrain and netizens across the globe abuzz. As of this writing, the video has been viewed 710,072 times with 11,360 likes and 80 comments.
In the video, the Pinay claimed she was raped by her employer’s son while she was doing her household chores. When she resisted, she was hit on the legs and thighs.
After the incident, her employer's son threatened to kill and bury her in the desert if she revealed the incident to anyone.
"Yung anak ng amo ko ginalaw ako. Tapos nagsumbong ako sa amo ko kagabi. Bakit daw di ko agad sinabi? Natatakot akong magsalita kasi pagkatapos akong galawin ng anak niya pinagbantaan ako na kapag magsumbong daw ako dadalin daw niya ako sa disyerto papatayin at ibabaon niya ako doon," the Pinay recounted.
The Pinay said she reported the incident to her employer and expressed her intention to return home. But the latter told her that she would have to wait two more months before they can purchase a ticket, with her own money, as she will not be able to finish her contract.
"Sabi ko paano ko matatapos ang kontrata nasa peligro na yung buhay ko? Paano kung mabuntis ako? Sabi niya pagkatapos ng isang linggo ipapa-check kita. Kung buntis, ka ipapatanggal ko at pauuwiin kita," the Pinay recounted.
The embassy was bombarded with calls inquiring if the video was authentic, if it happened in Bahrain, and what actions have been taken to help the distressed OFW.
Vice Consul Ricky Aragon disclosed to ABS-CBN Middle East that upon learning about the plight of the OFW in the viral video, and as well as receiving several reports about the video from Filipinos in Bahrain, the embassy’s Assistance-To-Nationals (ATN) Section was able to identify and locate the victim through coordination with her local Bahrain placement agency.
Embassy officials were also able to talk to the OFW over the phone to confirm her location and ascertain her condition. She was then rescued and taken to the Philippine embassy where she officially reported the incident.
The OFW, with the help of embassy officials, went to the police station and filed a criminal complaint against her alleged assailant. After filing the case, she will be taken to the hospital for medical examination.
As the Bahraini authorities are investigating on the case, the embassy appealed to the public to protect the privacy and rights of the Pinay by withholding her name. The embassy will be issuing an official statement as soon as the investigation is completed.
Netizens are happy to learn that she is now under the custody of the embassy in Manama. They urged the embassy to help resolve the case and ensure that justice is served.

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