The Philippine Consulate in the United Arab Emirates is currently congested due to hundreds of Overseas Filipino Workers who are crying for help. Some of them are victims of abuse from their employers while others were been fooled by illegal recruiters.
Living like Sardines
Numerous undocumented OFWs are now living like sardines inside the PH Consulate in UAE after running away from their abusive employer and illegal recruiters. Some of them are there because they escaped from their vicious boss while others are sent back by their employers.
While waiting for the processing of their documents, they have no choice but to share one common bathroom which doesn’t even have a door and sleep on the cold floor while hugging all their things.
False Promises
One of them is “Lisa” who just recently returned to the Philippines last May. According to her, she was victimized by an illegal recruiter named Melanie Lopez whom she just met through Facebook.
Lopez referred her to a certain Ronald Bryan De Villa who, according to Melanie is her agent. Lisa was convinced to go abroad after being promised of security and high salary.
“Safe naman daw po kaming makakarating ng Dubai. Kesyo naka monitor kami, may magandang trabaho, may dayoff , malaki ang sweldo.”
Escape
However, as soon as they landed in Dubai, De Villa brought Lisa to a house and tasked her of cleaning the house along with other OFWs. Since then, Lopez and De Villa vanished without a trace. Even when Lisa tried to contact them, she failed.
After suffering from three days of overwork and hunger, Lisa together with her fellow workers decided to escape and seek help. Luckily Blas Ople Center gave her assistance for her to finally go back to the country.
Appeals
After all the rigors that she experienced in Dubai, Lisa wishes to help her fellow OFWs who are still suffering in the UAE. She said that there are at least 500 Filipina domestic helper in Dubai and 300 in Abu Dhabi that are being sold by fellow Filipinos to different foreigners to be a slave.
She appeals to the president to help the other victims of illegal recruitment in the UAE to end their sufferings and so they can return home safely.
