PHL Embassy: Pinays rescued from Saudi princess' US house now in California shelter
Four Filipinas found inside the house of a Saudi Arabian princess accused of human trafficking are now doing well at a California shelter, even as US authorities probe whether they are also victims of human trafficking.
On its Twitter account Friday (Philippine time), the Philippine embassy in Washington said it remains in touch with US authorities after the "rescue" of the four.
"(The) Philippine Embassy (was) told the four Filipinas (are) doing well in (an) NGO shelter in Irvine, California, where they were taken after (the) July 10 raid," it said.
Embassy welfare officer Saul de Vries was told authorities are "still investigating whether the four are victims of human trafficking," it added.
Police in California found and rescued four Filipinas allegedly being held against their will from the house of Saudi Arabian princess Meshael Alayban, 42, charged with human trafficking.
The four were rescued after another domestic helper, a Kenyan, managed to escape and inform police about their plight, UK's The Daily Mail reported Thursday.
"Orange County District Attorney says the four were found during (the) raid of (the) home of Saudi princess charged with trafficking of (a) Kenyan woman into US," the Philippine embassy said.
The embassy also said it told US authorities the Embassy and the Consulate General in Los Angelesare "ready to extend assistance to the four Filipinas."
Princess charged
Alayban was charged with one count of human trafficking in California. She may face up to 12 years in prison if convicted.
Alayban's alleged victim was a 30-year-old Kenyan woman who said she was hired in March 2012 though an agency in Kenya.
The Kenyan said her passport was allegedly taken from her upon her arrival in Saudi Arabia.
During a search on Alayban's Orange County home, the police found the four Filipina servants "allegedly in similar conditions."
Alayban allegedly gave the passports to the five women at passport control but otherwise kept the passports under lock and key in a bank safe box since they arrived in May.
The five women were reportedly in good health, with no indications of physical abuse found on them. They were being assisted in finding housing at a shelter.
Irvine police chief David Maggard Jr. was quoted in the Daily Mail report as saying the four told police they were interested in being free.
But while Alayban did not appear in court, her lawyer Paul Meyer insisted the case was a contractual dispute. "This is a domestic work hours dispute," he said. — LBG, GMA News
On its Twitter account Friday (Philippine time), the Philippine embassy in Washington said it remains in touch with US authorities after the "rescue" of the four.
"(The) Philippine Embassy (was) told the four Filipinas (are) doing well in (an) NGO shelter in Irvine, California, where they were taken after (the) July 10 raid," it said.
Embassy welfare officer Saul de Vries was told authorities are "still investigating whether the four are victims of human trafficking," it added.
Police in California found and rescued four Filipinas allegedly being held against their will from the house of Saudi Arabian princess Meshael Alayban, 42, charged with human trafficking.
The four were rescued after another domestic helper, a Kenyan, managed to escape and inform police about their plight, UK's The Daily Mail reported Thursday.
"Orange County District Attorney says the four were found during (the) raid of (the) home of Saudi princess charged with trafficking of (a) Kenyan woman into US," the Philippine embassy said.
The embassy also said it told US authorities the Embassy and the Consulate General in Los Angelesare "ready to extend assistance to the four Filipinas."
Princess charged
Alayban was charged with one count of human trafficking in California. She may face up to 12 years in prison if convicted.
Alayban's alleged victim was a 30-year-old Kenyan woman who said she was hired in March 2012 though an agency in Kenya.
The Kenyan said her passport was allegedly taken from her upon her arrival in Saudi Arabia.
During a search on Alayban's Orange County home, the police found the four Filipina servants "allegedly in similar conditions."
Alayban allegedly gave the passports to the five women at passport control but otherwise kept the passports under lock and key in a bank safe box since they arrived in May.
The five women were reportedly in good health, with no indications of physical abuse found on them. They were being assisted in finding housing at a shelter.
Irvine police chief David Maggard Jr. was quoted in the Daily Mail report as saying the four told police they were interested in being free.
But while Alayban did not appear in court, her lawyer Paul Meyer insisted the case was a contractual dispute. "This is a domestic work hours dispute," he said. — LBG, GMA News
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