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Tuesday, May 16, 2006
OFW from Silay City 'raped' by Owwa officer in Saudi
By Ma. Ester L. Espina
"BETRAYED," was the sentiment of Nina (not her real name), a former Overseas Filipino Worker in Saudi Arabia, against the very agency that was supposed to help troubled Filipinos abroad.
Nina, 26, a resident of Silay City, Negros Occidental, reported that she was sexually assaulted by Gilbert, real name withheld by Sun.Star, an employee of the Philippine Overseas Labor Office (Polo) last February 3, 2006 right inside the Polo office at Al-Khobar, Saudi Arabia.
Gilbert "rescued" Nina from the clutches of her "abusive" employer but she didn't realize that she would fall into another abuse, right under the hands of her supposed rescuer.
Nina's affidavit, prepared by Polo administrative staff II, Joselito Manabat and signed by Labor Attaché, Delmer Cruz recounted Nina's ordeal in the hands of Gilbert at the very night of her rescue.
"I am disappointed and disgusted over what happened. While I was able to thwart the sexual advances of my former Arab employer which caused me to run away, I fell into the hands of a fellow Filipino who took advantage of me," Nina said.
The eldest of three daughters and a widowed mother, Nina left for Saudi to work as a domestic helper in December 19, 2004 to help augment their family's income which solely comes from the pension of their late father.
She was placed under Ahmed Abdullah Ibrahim Dobis at Doha, Dhahran whom she alleged, continually attempted to sexually molest her and even withheld her salary for months, prompting her to report the matter to her family here.
Nina admitted running away four times and reporting the abuses under her employer to the police but would forgive him every time he asks her to come back "only because my lady employer and wards were kind to me."
The mother, however, reported the matter to Owwa Bacolod who informed Polo in Saudi.
It was sometime November 2005 when Polo finally contacted her through "Ging", a Polo counselor, who continually monitors Nina's situation and counsels her over the phone.
When Ging took a leave from work, her case was endorsed to Gilbert who counseled her three times on the phone and even gave her his mobile number in case she needs immediate help.
On February 2, 2006, around 9 p.m., Nina decided to run away again.
She sought the assistance of fellow Filipinos, Rodelyn Esguerra and Francisco Duyaki, a DH and driver in a neighboring house. They contacted Gilbert who advised them to proceed to IPSA, but not knowing the place, decided to meet up at the Alaura Shopping Center in Khobar.
It was around 1 a.m. of February 3, 2006 when Gilbert rescued her and brought her to the Polo building. Nina expected to be brought to the center where other Filipinos waiting to be repatriated were staying but to her surprise, Gilbert brought her to his own quarters where the assault took place.
It was finally dawn when Gilbert released her and told her to tell everyone that she was rescued around 7 a.m. of that day. She, however, did not take it sitting down and instead told other Filipinos who urged her to file a complaint.
Nina was given assurance by the Polo office that they will forward her complaint. Before her repatriation, Nina was transferred to the Philippine Embassy in Riyadh, where she again filed the same complaint, which was signed by Consul Germinia Aguilar-Usudan.
Nina was finally sent home on March 12, 2006 and was told to report to the Owwa office in Manila. Two days later, she did just that and was surprised to see Gilbert there who attempted to settle things with her, even offering to give money to rebuild their house.
Nina also said Gilbert's colleagues from Owwa also attempted to settle things before the administrative case against Gilbert will be filed, and while she nodded yes to them, she went forth and urged the filing of her case against her perpetrator.
She went to see Connie Marquez, head of the Office of Repatriation Assistance, who assured her that they will inform her of the status of her case, but who also told her that it might take two years before they see any resolution to the case.
Two months later, Nina who went back to their home, still has to hear from Owwa and know what happened to the case she has filed.
Silay Councilor Marie June Castro took her case in and brought it to DAWN Foundation and the Provincial Council for Women who condemned the incident and will help Nina seek justice and urged the authorities to resolve the matter immediately.
"It is sad to note that the very agency that is supposed to help her took advantage of Nina," Castro said, adding that she will file a resolution as well before the Silay City Council to seek for immediate justice for the victim.
Castro, a women's rights advocate, also urged Owwa to review their rescue protocol and take note that women employee should always accompany men in rescue operations and where do they bring these troubled OFWs upon rescue.
Nina believes too that there might have been other women who went through the same fate she had after Gilbert allegedly showed her pictures of other women he has helped, calling her an ingrate for complaining after he helped her escape from her employer.
Foreign Affairs Consul, Liza Jane Estanilla, who was in town over the weekend also said she will look into the police matter and urged Nina to get further counseling.
Nina's mother on the other hand said they'd rather starve than allow her daughter to go back abroad. With tears, she said she pity's Nina who sometimes would have "blank stares and not answer back," adding that she only wants "justice for my daughter."
Castro said they are studying whether to file criminal charges against Gilbert and Owwa itself for the incident and for failure to inform Nina about the status of the case.
(May 16, 2006 issue)
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