OFW escapes from abusive employer in Saudi Arabia

A Filipina migrant worker in Saudi Arabia managed to escape from her employers, whose repeated physical abuse has resulted in several wounds and bruises across her body.

According to a Sunday report on 24 Oras Weekend by Katrina Son, the woman had only been with her employers, a married couple in Abha, for three months when they began physically abusing her.

“‘Yung kaunting pagkakamali lang po na hindi ko sinasadya, halimbawa may mabasag ako na baso, tapos ‘yung utos nila na hindi ko masunod, nakakalimutan ko, tapos ‘yung mga anak niya, nagsusumbong po kasi,” she recalled.

The physical abuse caused her hair to fall out. She also ended up needing stitches for an injury to her ear. 

She began seeking help from her fellow Filipino workers in the area in September 2019.

The other Filipinos in Abha sent photos of her maltreated body to her husband, who was in the Philippines.

The victim’s husband said he sought assistance from his wife’s recruitment agency but to no avail.

“Sabi po ng agency sa akin wala po raw kaming basehan na ebidensya,” he said. “Masakit po talaga kasi wala po akong magawa sa kanyang tulong kasi malayo po ako e.”

He added that the Philippine Overseas Employment Agency kept telling him to return on a different day.

On February 7, the victim found an opportunity to escape after another episode of physical abuse that started over a wet carpet.

“Pinalabas po niya ako sa black room tapos kumuha po siya ng extension wire, pinalo niya ako nang pinalo. Doblehin po nila ‘yun, tiklupin nila ‘yun. Tapos ‘yung pinakasaksakan po, tumatama lahat sa katawan ko,” she said through tears.

When the employer’s husband arrived home, the couple beat her together.

“Ang inabot ko po sa kanya, suntok po, sampal, sipa, palo,” she said of the husband.

She found an opportunity to escape when the couple went into their room. Somebody brought her to the hospital, where news of her predicament was able to reach her family.

Migrante International slammed the government’s inaction.

“Nakakagalit ‘yung nangyari sa kanya at dapat magalit din ‘yung gobyerno sa pagtrato sa ating kababayan, ngunit hindi siya binigyan ng sapat na tugon,” chairperson Joanna Concepcion said.

However, the Department of Labor and Employment said the victim’s employers were detained but eventually posted bail.

“Magkakaroon ng panibagong investigation dahil nakalabas ‘yung employer niya,” Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III said.

“She’s being attended sa kanyang medical needs, as well as our labor office is providing her legal assistance,” he added. — Julia Mari Ornedo/BM, GMA News