MASANTOL -- A Kapampangan overseas Filipino worker (OFW) who was allegedly maltreated by her employer is seeking assistance so she could go back home.
Madonna Dela Vega allegedly experienced physical and sexual abuse on the hands of his employer in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, according to her common-law husband Julius Reyes.
Reyes said the 34-year-old OFW from Barangay Alauli, Masantol left the country on December 15, 2020 to work as a domestic helper.
"Nung first week niya, pinakitaan daw po siya ng ari ng amo niya tapos nung mga sumunod na araw binuhusan daw po siya ng bleach," Reyes said.
(During her first week there, she claimed the employer showed his genitals and in the followings, poured bleach on her.)
He added that his wife was able to report the alleged abuse to the agency that hired her before her employer tried to confiscate her phone.
"Nakapagreport po siya sa agency dun sa mga insidente at nung nalaman po ng amo niya, kinukuha ang phone niya pero bago po makuha, nakaakyat po sa bubong ang asawa ko," Reyes furthered.
(She was able to report the incident to the agency and when her employer learned about it, he tried taking away her phone but before he could do so, my wife was able to climb the roof.)
It was then that the agency reportedly came and rescued Dela Vega from her employers and brought her to the agency.
Reyes said the agency tried to deploy Dela Vega to another employer but her traumatic experience is taking a toll on her.
"Sinubukan din po niyang makipagtrabaho ulit kaya lang natatakot na daw po siya na baka maulit ulit at hindi na siya makatakas," he said.
(She said she tried getting another job but fears that such incidents will happen again and she could no longer escape.)
Reyes is now asking for any possible logistical and monetary assistance he can get to fly back his wife and ensure her safety in the country.
Aside from the plane fare, he said they are also asked to pay a huge amount of money to pay back the agency and employer before Dela Vega can go home.
"Akala ko po noon hindi totoo iyong mga ganyan kwento pero ngayon pong asawa ko mismo ang nakaranas, nakakalungkot at nakakagalit po talaga. Sa panahon po ngayon ng pandemya, nagagawa pa po nila sa kapwa tao nila na ang gusto lang ay mabuhay ang kanilang pamilya," he said.
(I thought then that such stories were not true but when it happened to my wife, it's saddening and really maddening. In this time of the pandemic, others could do such to their fellows who just want to provide for their families.)