Bid to hush up maid’s beating
Battered Filipina told not to complain
Ayla Marisse G Ginete
Contributor
Judging from the bloodstains on Merle Bautista’s clothes, it is clear that she went through a rough ordeal. She is one of the many Filipino household helpers who are brutally attacked and beaten up without mercy by their sponsors.
Merle, however, was allegedly “advised” not to press charges by Philippine Embassy officials after she made a hasty retreat to the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) a few days before.
“I managed to work for about five months with my sponsor’s family despite all the hardships I had to endure. The family themselves evidently had serious internal problems of their own. They were never at peace, they were always shouting and fighting with each other. This behaviour trickled down to their children who also behaved badly,” Merle said.
Bid to hush up maid’s beating
Battered Filipina told not to complain
Ayla Marisse G Ginete
Contributor
Judging from the bloodstains on Merle Bautista’s clothes, it is clear that she went through a rough ordeal. She is one of the many Filipino household helpers who are brutally attacked and beaten up without mercy by their sponsors.
Merle, however, was allegedly “advised” not to press charges by Philippine Embassy officials after she made a hasty retreat to the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) a few days before.
“I managed to work for about five months with my sponsor’s family despite all the hardships I had to endure. The family themselves evidently had serious internal problems of their own. They were never at peace, they were always shouting and fighting with each other. This behaviour trickled down to their children who also behaved badly,” Merle said.
“I was often shouted at and frequently, they tugged on my hair as if I were some ragged doll they can simply throw left and right. But I did not know that the worse was about to come. One day I was talking on my mobile phone when my male sponsor shouted at me demanding the phone. When I refused, he slapped me. My face became numb and I felt dizzy,” said Merle as she recounted the incident.
“His cousin also joined the beating, slapping and kicking me till I bled. My nose had cracked and my front teeth were knocked out. I was bleeding profusely and I passed out momentarily. Reluctant as I was, I managed to crawl to the bathroom by my madam’s orders to wash myself. This was more than I could bear and I escaped,” she said.
However, she managed to maintain her presence of mind and took her camera that still had some shots and took pictures of herself battered, bruised and bleeding. She also managed to keep the clothes she was wearing at the time of the alleged attack in case the police would require them during the investigation.
“When I reached here at the embassy I was ‘warned” by Ulysses, an embassy official, that filing a case against my sponsor for battery may take months to resolve, which also mean that I may not be able to go home. He convinced me not to press charges or even go to the police, and so far nothing has happened,” she added. “I am willing to work. Going home is the last resort for me. My sponsor says he is willing to release me as long as I pay BD400, the amount they paid to hire me. I don’t have the money or the resources to get that amount,” she said.
Merle hails from Taguig, Rizal where her husband and four sons eagerly wait for her return.
Pictures:Merle Bautista (now)
Merle (then)
Her bloodied clothes
Last update on: 25-1-2007
Article from: Bahrain Tribune Newspaper- www.BahrainTribune.com