Saudi authorities on Thursday, September 20, have filed a case against the employer of an overseas Filipina worker (OFW) in Saudi Arabia who was forced to drink bleach.
OFW Agnes Mancilla was rushed to the intensive care unit (ICU) of a hospital in Saudi after she was allegedly forced to drink bleach by her employer after “she reportedly made a mistake in preparing tea,” Consul General to Jeddah Edgar Badajos reported to the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA).
Fellow OFWs rushed Mancilla to the hospital after they found her unconscious on April 2.
The Pinay worker has undergone laparotomy to get the bleach out of her liver. Doctors also found burns on Mancilla’s back.
Mancilla’s employer allegedly bit her when she made mistakes. The OFW was also forced to work for 20 hours per day with coffee as her only meal.
With the filing of the case, the trial can now proceed with the OFW’s employer subject to jailtime, lashing, and financial compensation if found guilty.
Meanwhile, foreign affairs secretary Alan Peter Cayetano welcomed the news. He said: “We would like to thank authorities in Saudi Arabia for filing the necessary charges against the employer who abused our kababayan.”
“We are counting on our Saudi friends in ensuring that our kababayan would be able to obtain justice for the unthinkable deed committed against her,” he added.
