Scalded OFW arrives home, receives gov’t assistance




Pahima Alagasi, the domestic worker who was scalded by the mother of her employer in Saudi Arabia four years ago, is finally home.
A report by GMA News' JP Soriano on Balitanghali on Friday said Alagasi arrived at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 1 past 10 a.m. and was welcomed by Foreign Affairs officials as well as ACTS-OFW party-list Representative Aniceto "John" Bertiz III.
Alagasi was accompanied by Philippine Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Adnan Alonto.
A single mother of two from Pikit, North Cotabato, Alagasi filed a maltreatment case against the mother of her employer for allegedly pouring boiling water on her back in May 2014.
Her employer, however, filed a slander case against Alagasi after she posted photos of her burns on Facebook and her story was picked up by the Philippine media.
Through the mediation of Saudi officials, the two parties reached settlement, the report said.
In a press conference, Alagasi — also identified as Pahima Palacasi in some reports —thanked the government officials and pro-OFW organizations who helped her return home.
"Hindi ko po kasi inasahan na makakauwi pa ko," she said. "Kahit nandito na ako, hindi pa rin po ako makapaniwala."
Alagasi was repatriated after President Rodrigo Duterte requested for it during Saudi Prince Abdulaziz bin Saud bin Naif's visit to Malacañang on March 19.
"Alam niyo po ito po'y talagang, kumbaga, ibinalato sa atin itong kaso na ito," Alonto said during the press conference.
Alagasi is scheduled for a courtesy call on Duterte on Saturday in Davao City, where she will also be reunited with her two children after leaving them for work in Saudi Arabia in 2014. —KBK, GMA News

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