In an episode of GMA7’s docu-drama about OFWs, Tadhana, an overseas Filipino worker (OFW) in Dubai narrated her story when she was arrested for illegally adopting a child who was left behind by one of her tenants who decided to leave her flat.
OFW Arlene, who owns a catering business and a flat in Dubai, decided to adopt a child left behind by her tenant like one of her own. The OFW discovered the child inside a washing machine used by tenants of the building.
Wanting to have a child for so long, Arlene fell in love with the baby and decided to treat the baby like her own.
The baby, however, was eventually discovered to have anemia and was in need of blood transfusion. The doctor discovered that Arlene is not the real mother of the baby after the OFW admitted that she could not be the blood donor for the baby.
After the baby was released from the hospital, Arlene was visited by authorities who brought her to the station for questioning. There, Arlene admitted that she is not the biological mother of the baby.
Arlene was put into jail after choosing not to give up the baby despite the advice of a staff from the embassy and her family in the Philippines. Arlene took care of the baby while inside the jail.
After three years in jail, the UAE government decided to give Arlene full custody of the child which meant that she is the legal foster mother of the then three-year old child. Her case was dropped and was allowed to return to the Philippines.
