ANOTHER Dagupeña who suffered physical abuse in the hands of her employers in Saudi Arabia has been repatriated by the the city government, through the Public Employment and Services Office (PESO).

Arlyn (family name withheld), a 28-year old resident of Barangay Pantal, was just seven months working as a housekeeper in Riyadh when her employers began maltreating her.

She recalled instances when her employer’s family inflicted bruises and scalding in parts of her body.

“I wasn’t expecting this at all because they treated me nicely at first. But they did so many things to me in the past months. It was really difficult having to experience that. I could not even eat well for a month. I couldn’t fight back. All I could do was cry,” Arlyn said.

She said only prayers helped her during her most difficult times in Riyadh.

Arlyn also said that at one time, she was locked by her employers in her quarters, a situation which prompted her to seek help from her family and friends.

It was Arlyn’s friend, Beverly Bellocillo, who conveyed her situation in a post on Facebook last September and her post immediately went viral with the help of concerned citizens.

This prompted her mother to seek the help of PESO Manager Jocelyn Siapno.

With the timely intervention of the PESO through Mayor Belen T. Fernandez, the city government coordinated with the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) that arranged for the repatriation of Arlyn.

Arlyn was finally brought home on November 4 after weeks of coordination by PESO with Department of Labor and Department of Foreign Affairs.

She paid a call to Mayor Fernandez the following day to thank the later and PESO for the efforts to repatriate her immediately on learning about her case.

“I really thought I would not be able to go home. I’m very, very thankful to Mayor Fernandez, Ms. Joy Siapno and everyone who helped me in my case. I would not be able to come home without their help,” said Arlyn.

She also advised her fellow Dagupeños aspiring to work abroad: “Huwag padalus–dalus dahil sa totoo lang, napakahirap magtrabaho sa ibang bansa.”

Arlyn was the 78th Overseas Filipino Worker (OFW) repatriated with the help of PESO Dagupan. Her case was the 134th resolved out of the 150 cases referred to the office. (CIO/VDV)

 

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