Filipina ‘assaulted’ by four men who helped her flee sponsor
Ayla Marisse G Ginete
Contributor
A 45-year old Filipina woman running away from her sponsor has claimed to have been assaulted by four men who offered to help her escape to the Philippine Embassy.
Dorina Francisco, who worked as a housemaid claims to have been physically abused by her sponsors making her clean three other houses that belonged to relatives.
“I have suffered much in that house, they made me clean day and night, resulting in me having to work for at least 15-18 hours a day. When I got sick, they refused to take me to the hospital to have myself checked. My hands developed a severe allergy to the cleaning detergents I used there. The bleach I was forced to use with my bare hands burned my skin, and somehow caused an allergic reaction,” she said.
Filipina ‘assaulted’ by four men who helped her flee sponsor
Ayla Marisse G Ginete
Contributor
A 45-year old Filipina woman running away from her sponsor has claimed to have been assaulted by four men who offered to help her escape to the Philippine Embassy.
Dorina Francisco, who worked as a housemaid claims to have been physically abused by her sponsors making her clean three other houses that belonged to relatives.
“I have suffered much in that house, they made me clean day and night, resulting in me having to work for at least 15-18 hours a day. When I got sick, they refused to take me to the hospital to have myself checked. My hands developed a severe allergy to the cleaning detergents I used there. The bleach I was forced to use with my bare hands burned my skin, and somehow caused an allergic reaction,” she said.
“There was a time when both my hands swelled and hurt like anything but my sponsors refused to bring me to the doctor. They bought me a cream to apply on my hands to reduce the swelling but the cost of this cream was charged to me.”
“I escaped early in the morning when my sponsors were still in bed, on my way two Bahraini men stopped me in the road and offered to help. I don’t know where they took me. I just remember a desert like place.
“I was so afraid; they took me to a nearby coffee shop and I entered there hoping someone would help me. An Indian man called me into an office and assured me that he’d help me contact the Philippine Embassy. Instead, this man took advantage of me and later on just kicked me out of the coffee shop”, she said.
“I ran as fast as I could, when a taxi pulled over. I jumped into the taxi and the driver immediately asked me how much I had. I told him I only had BD3 with me but he said that was not enough. He brought me to another place and there he took advantage of me. I thought I died there, when I realised I was groggily walking towards the embassy entrance as the taxi sped off.”
Dorina thought she would receive some relief from the embassy officials but got disheartened with the fact that she could not file a case. There is no proof to validate her claims nor are any signs of struggle; scratches or bruises, that may aid the case.
She has taken refuge at the Overseas Workers Welfare Association (OWWA) and is awaiting a response from her sponsor.
The Overseas Workers Welfare Association (OWWA) is an attached agency of the Department of Labour & Employment (DOLE) and the lead membership welfare institution that serves the interest and welfare of member-overseas Filipino workers (OFWs).
The association also commits to a fund stewardship that is transparent, judicious, and responsive to the requirements of the member-OFWs.
Article from: Bahrain Tribune Newspaper- www.BahrainTribune.com