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OFW rape case settled for P750K but recruiter not yet off the hook

By Villamor Visaya, Jr.

April 9, 2019, 3:14 pm

CITY OF ILAGAN, Isabela -- The rape case involving a 22-year-old Filipino worker in Jeddah has been settled for 50,000 Saudi Riyal or PHP750,000, Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Secretary Silvestre Bello III said.

“The victim is being assisted now by the Assistance to Nationals Section (ANS) of the Philippine Consulate General in Jeddah,” Bello told the Philippine News Agency in an interview at his residence here on Monday.

However, the recruitment agencies Iemploy Manpower Services Inc., and its Saudi counterpart Madar AlKharj, will still be held administratively liable despite the settlement of the case, the Labor secretary added.

Bello said the rape victim will be repatriated to the Philippines after the case is cleared from prosecution.

He also said the Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO) had immediately acted on his order to investigate the involvement of recruitment agencies in the rape case and four other maltreatment charges.

Bello is awaiting updates on the four overseas workers identified as Samra Musa Lidasan, Lyn Silongan Sali, Norhen Gayo Sarat and Noraima Mamadra Bandara who were allegedly forced to work for 10 hours in different households and render another two hours of duty at their original employer.

The workers had allegedly been forced to work as cleaners even though they have legitimate papers or residence permits, the DOLE chief said. (PNA)

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