BALANGA CITY, Bataan — Tears flowed inside Balanga City Hall as social workers interviewed an overseas Filipino worker (OFW) who endured severe maltreatment in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, surviving on just one meal a day for 13 months.
“Yes, we cried while interviewing her because what she went through in Saudi Arabia was truly heartbreaking,” admitted Stephen Mendoza, a registered social worker assigned to document the maltreatment case.
Upon learning about Anne’s ordeal, Mayor Francis Garcia and Councilor Marie Vasquez immediately directed the CSWD to extend all possible assistance, following an article published in DAILY TRIBUNE detailing her plight.
Mendoza noted that while their office has handled cases of violence against women and domestic abuse, Anne’s experience stood out as exceptionally harrowing.
“Aside from financial and legal assistance, we also provide counseling to victims of violence. If necessary, we refer them to barangay officials, the police, and law enforcement agencies for proper legal action,” he added.
Mendoza noted that while their office has handled cases of violence against women and domestic abuse, Anne’s experience stood out as exceptionally harrowing.
Anne said her Saudi employers forced her to return to the Philippines after developing two life-threatening illnesses due to malnutrition. She worked as a housemaid for two lawyers and an accountant — well-educated individuals who, she claimed, treated their workers inhumanely.
“We were three Filipinas working as maids, yet we were only given one meal a day — no snacks. They counted the food in their refrigerator, making sure we couldn’t take anything extra,” Anne recounted, voice filled with emotion.
Anne, from a poor family in a remote barangay, had to work in Saudi Arabia to support her family after her father’s death. News of her ordeal spread across Bataan, drawing sympathy from officials and agencies like the Department of Migrant Workers and OWWA.
Anne described working from 6 a.m. to 3 a.m. the next day with only three hours of sleep. “We were lucky if we could sleep five hours, but that was rare,” she lamented. She earned P23,000 per month but received no overtime despite working nearly 21 hours daily.
She said many OFWs in Riyadh suffer similarly but remain silent for fear of losing their jobs.
Due to malnutrition, Anne developed two serious illnesses. Instead of seeking medical help, her employers forced her to return to the Philippines without paying for her airfare.
“My family had to borrow money to pay for my plane ticket because I had no salary left,” she said.
Upon returning to Bataan, Anne sought medical attention, but her family could not afford the P125,000 required for surgery.
“We cannot afford the hospital charges,” she said, her voice breaking.