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VP de Castro vows to help abused Pinay DH in Jeddah


Vice President Noli de Castro has vowed to help an overseas Filipino worker (OFW) in Saudi Arabia who was reportedly raped three times in Saudi Arabia.

Melissa, sister of "Anna" who was working in Jeddah, went to ABS-CBN to seek the help of de Castro who is also the presidential adviser on OFWs.

Melissa said her sister, who is a single parent from Cainta town in Rizal province, applied for a job and went to Saudi Arabia supposedly as a juice maker. Salazar ended up however as a domestic helper in the Middle Eastern kingdom.

Through text messages from "Anna", Melissa learned of her sister’s harrowing experiences.

"Oo ginalaw ako 3 beses huwag ka na tawag sa agency. OWWA tawagan u ayoko na dito... (Yes they abused me three times. Don't call the agency. Call OWWA [Overseas Workers' Welfare Administration])" the OFW said in one of text messages read by Melissa to ABS-CBN.

Melissa said "Anna" told her that she wanted to escape after she was raped by her Arab employer.

"Takas na ko bukas. May ginawa sa akin yong manyak. Tawag kayo sa OWWA (Overseas Workers Welfare Administration) sabihin ninyo kinuha yong kontrata ko nung tauhan ng agency sa airport (I'm going to escape tomorrow. My employer did something to me. Call OWWA and tell them that the [placement] agency took my contract at the airport)," Melissa read in another text message from "Anna".

Melissa said "Anna" was able to escape her employer by tying the ends of bedsheets and climbing down from a window.

"Andito na si Manyak tatakas ako pag may pasok na ayoko na dito sukang suka ako sa sarili ko, hirap na ako (The Maniac is here, I will escape. I no longer want to be here. I can no loger bear myself. It’s hard for me)," said Salazar in one text messages read by Melissa.

Melissa said that after Salazar escaped however, her sister said two more Arabs raped her in separate instances while she was going to the Philippine consulate.

"Tapos nong December 25 alas sais nagtext [siya]. Ni-rape din daw siya nong dalawang Arabo (Then on December 25 at six, she sent another text message. She said she was raped by two Arabs)," said Melissa.

Melissa said "Anna" was now under the care of the Philippine consulate in Jeddah and was asking the government to help her return to the Philippines after her ordeals.

After discussing "Anna"'s case, De Castro, in his "Para Sa 'Yo Bayan" radio program, vowed to help and directed OWWA and the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration to extend assistance to "Anna".

The Philippine consulate has immediately started an investigation into the case.

Ambot lang kung ma priso ba pud kaha ning mga Arabo nga nang rape niya.

Maayo nalang naka lingkawas siya, wala siya gipatay.

Nakahinumdom jud ko adtong pinoy nga OFW sa Saudi, gi rape siya ug pito ka mga Arabo,

he didn't report the crime, but when he came home sa Pinas,

he got sick, nagpa check-up, then found out he had HIV...

sus pagka pait

Naa ba pud mga kaso sa Saudi of Arab women being raped by Arab men?

or mga pinay ra ilang panamastamasan kay feeling nila pobreng uyamot lagi

ug puede ra madaug daug

maajo untag mapriso C2 looy sad ang atong kabayan didto.

uoya sab niya oi, maayo unta ma priso nang mga araboha na.

I don't think an Arab man was ever convicted in his country for raping a hapless Pinay...

I don't think that has happened yet