An illegally recruited overseas Filipina worker (OFW) in Lebanon has returned to the Philippines after managing to escape from her employer who abused and forced her to work as a prostitute.
The OFW, identified as Cecile Tubadan from Zamboanga del Norte, arrived in the Philippines on September 13 after being illegally recruited by the sister of her live-in partner, reported PNA.
Tubadan said her live-in partner’s sister, Myrene Salvador Abuan, offered her a job in Lebanon as a domestic helper with a monthly salary of $400 (Php21,612). She agreed and flew to Lebanon on July 19, 2018 using a tourist visa.
The OFW was then endorsed to SREIH Services, a housemaid agency in Lebanon. The agency then told Tubadan that while they are looking for an employer for her, she could stay at the home of Abuan’s Syrian husband, Hashim Ali, who also resides in Lebanon.
While staying at Hashim Ali’s home, however, the Filipina was forced to work as a prostitute in a spa. When she refused, the Filipina was physically abused and locked inside the residence.
Desperate for help, Tubadan called for help by posting a status on Facebook which her relatives and friends in the Philippines saw.
A school teacher in her hometown reported the incident to First District Rep. Seth Frederick Jalosjos who sent a formal letter to the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) for Tubadan’s rescue.
Tubadan was able to escape Hashim Ali’s residence when the Syrian was not home and met with her friends who brought her to the Philippine Embassy.
Embassy officials, meanwhile, demanded for SREIH Services to return Tubadan’s travel documents and to shoulder the OFW’s return tickets to the Philippines. In return, Tubadan signed a document stating that she will not file charges against the recruitment agency.
Upon her arrival in the Philippines, Tubadan called for government help to rescue other Filipinas trapped inside Hashim Ali’s home.
“There are a lot of Filipinas who need help,” Tubadan said.
“There are about a hundred at the embassy. They could not come home because they still have legal cases or they have no money.”
NOTE: Photo featured in the article was taken by Gualberto M. Laput for PNA.
