New runaway claims rape
Maid manages to escape after failed attempt
By Ayla Marisse G. Ginete
Staff Reporter
A new runaway maid at the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) claimed to have been sexually harassed by her sponsor on two occasions.
Reyna Cardines arrived on October 10, 2006 with the help of a referral from her older sister who also worked as a maid in Bahrain. She later found out that she had been assigned to a brother of her sister’s sponsor.
By mid-November, she claimed her sponsor has been making illicit advances towards her, but no matter how hard she tried to drive him away he pursued her still. She confessed that it was the second time she tried to run away. She said the first time she tried it she got caught.
New runaway claims rape
Maid manages to escape after failed attempt
By Ayla Marisse G. Ginete
Staff Reporter
A new runaway maid at the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) claimed to have been sexually harassed by her sponsor on two occasions.
Reyna Cardines arrived on October 10, 2006 with the help of a referral from her older sister who also worked as a maid in Bahrain. She later found out that she had been assigned to a brother of her sister’s sponsor.
By mid-November, she claimed her sponsor has been making illicit advances towards her, but no matter how hard she tried to drive him away he pursued her still. She confessed that it was the second time she tried to run away. She said the first time she tried it she got caught.
“The first time I tried to run away, I was immediately spotted by the police patrol who returned me to my sponsors. I suffered greatly during the first month with my sponsors; they had a huge house I had to clean everyday and I told them I just could not do it on my own. I tried to negotiate a schedule for the cleaning upstairs and downstairs but to no avail. One day, I just decided to leave but, I was caught barely a few metres away from their house as soon as I stepped out.”
“I noticed my sponsor’s odd behaviour towards me by mid-November. He came into my room and told me that he liked me. I was so scared and I could not do anything to stop him from his intentions. I could not even fight back because shouting for help when no one was around was useless! My sponsor would always plan his attacks when everyone is out of the house. He waited for everyone to leave and later came back for me,” she said.
“I had no time to react or do the logical thing to protect myself. I had no presence of mind and had no plan for a second attack. I was asked by embassy officials if I managed to scratch, get bruised or any signs of struggle that could serve as proof of an attack, but I do not have any. I regret ever having destroyed any proof I could have when I took a bath soon after the second ordeal,” she said.
“I do not want to go home because I came here to earn a living for my family. I also found out that my husband suffered a fatal accident while I was here. He is a carpenter and normally takes on odd jobs to earn a little for our daily expenses, but now he is stuck at home. I do not know what to do,” she cried.
It is believed that Reyna did not go through the normal procedures of employment because she has no recollection of ever going through the Philippine Overseas Employment Agency (POEA) or attending the required Pre-departure orientation (PDOS) that is a must for every Filipino being recruited.
Reyna hails from Leyte, Philippines, where her five children, ages five to 15 are waiting for her.
Article from: Bahrain Tribune Newspaper- www.BahrainTribune.com