MANILA (Mindanao Examiner / Jan. 12, 2013) – A Filipino working for a Philippine diplomat has been accused of sexual abuse by two runaway Filipina workers in Saudi Arabia, according to Migrante Middle East.
It said the Samahang Ilocano Global Alumni Council (SIGAC) has sent a letter detailing the victims’ complaints, who claimed they were sexually abused while seeking safe refuge at a Philippine-run shelter for distressed workers in Saudi.
In her 9-page letter, the woman who is native of Isabela province detailed her ordeal from the hands of her abuser.
“Sir, ginawa ko po ang sulat para makapagpaliwanag sa biglaang pag-alis sa custody ninyo at para humingi ng hustisya sa nangyari sa akin sa loob ng home base,” the woman said in her letter also sent to Philippine Ambassador Ezzedin Tago and Labor Attaché Adam Musa.
“Hindi ko po alam ang intension niya pero nakakaranas po kami ng pangha-harass mula sa kanya tulad ng panghihipo, nanunusok siya ng tagiliran, humahawak siya ng tiyan, nangingiliti at nangyayakap at marami pa pong iba,” the woman added.
She said it all started when the accused offered to bring her home, but suddenly grabbed her and then embraced and kissed her in the mouth, and then pulled her tops and mashed her breasts. The woman said she fought back until the man stopped, but the sexual abuses continued on her and other women every time the accused had an opportunity to do it.
But despite the woman’s complaints, both Tago and Musa failed to act on it. A letter was also sent recently by SIGAC to Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz asking her to look into the accusations and file charges against the accused.
OFW Join Force-Migrante chairperson Sonny Rivera said they and other Filipino community groups will press the Department of Labor and Employment to file charges against the accused and to recall Musa for his alleged failure to act on the complaints.
John Leonard Monterona, MigranteMiddle East regional coordinator, and also Vice-chairperson of MIGRANTE Sectoral party of OFWs and Families, vowed to bring the matter to the attention of Philippine authorities.
He said they will call for an independent probe on the reported sexual abuses on OFW wards at Bahay Kalinga or Filipino Workers Resource Centers in Saudi Arabia.
Monterona noted that OFW wards in Riyadh and Jeddah are also complaining about the inhumane treatment to them by embassy and labor officials. “They reported to us that they could not even use their own mobile phones and lap tops, some alleges that such items were confiscated,” he said.
“Nakakabahala na ang ganitong reports at complaints mula mismo sa mga OFW wards na nasa custody ng Philippine Embassy and labor officials. Kung sa loob mismo ng Philippine shelter may mga hayok sa laman, so di nga ligtas ang mga OFW wards na biktima na nga nang pang-aabuso ng kanilang employer. Dapat itong imbestigahan, may maparusahan at mabigyan ng hustisya ang OFWs na nagre-reklamo,” Monterona said. (Mindanao Examiner)
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