MANILA (Mindanao Examiner / Nov. 3, 2012) – A Philippine woman in Saudi Arabia has appealed to Manila to help her return home after a suffering a stroke and lost her eyesight.
The 47-year old woman, Virgina Gabiling, a native of Negros Occidental, ran away from her employer due to verbal abuses and other labor violations and was working illegally when she had a stroke, said Migrante, a Filipino migrants’ group, after learning about her plight.
“Sana tulungan naman nila akong maka-uwi kahit mamatay ako doon; basta doon lang sa Pilipinas,” said Gabiling.
Gabiling’s friend informed Migrante-Jeddah chairman Marlon Gatdula about her condition in an effort to help the woman return to the Philippines while she is still alive.
Migrante said the woman, on her own admission, was a victim of illegal recruitment.“We’ve found out that OFW Gabiling was a victim of an illegal recruiter, but she managed to sneak her out of the country and was deployed in Saudi Arabia in 2004,” Gatdula said.
John Leonard Monterona, Migrante’s regional coordinator, said they spoke to the woman -who is temporarily being sheltered by a friend – and recorded her appeal.
Gabiling said she sought assistance from the Philippine Consulate, but was scolded instead for running away from her abusive employer.
“Her friend and fellow OFW Jackie went to the Philippine Consulate twice to seek assistant for Gabiling, but until now no assistance was provided to her,” said Beng Medina, chairperson of the women’s rights group Gabriela in Jeddah.
Migrante and Gabriela have provided a copy of Gabiling’s recorded interview to the Philippine consulate recently. There was no immediate statement from the Philippine government about Gabiling’s appeal.
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