OFW who was tied to tree by Saudi employer now back in PHL


A Filipino woman who was tied to a tree by her employer in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia is now back with her family in the Philippines.
Lovely Acosta Ruelo was rescued by authorities after a photo of the incident went viral online. According to a report on 24 Oras, she was repatriated and is now back at home in Bauang, La Union.
Ruelo said that she and her co-workers had taken the household's chairs outside as usual, but their employer questioned their actions.
"Sinabi niya na ba't daw namin nilabas 'yung mga upuan samantalang 'yun naman ginagawa namin," she said. "Sabi niya nababad daw sa araw, hindi naman."
Ruelo said her employer grabbed her by the collar twice before instructing the driver to tie her to a tree. She was left there for seven hours, from 2 p.m. to 9 p.m.
The Department of Foreign Affairs said the incident was reported to them on May 9. Ruelo was sent back to the Philippines on the same day.
Ruelo said she could have experienced worse abuse if her employer had not been observing Ramadan, the holy month for Muslims.
"Di niya kasi ako naharap ngayon kasi Ramadan e. Siguro kung hindi Ramadan, di na ako nakauwi nang buhay," Ruelo said. — Marisse Panaligan/BM, GMA News

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