The rape case filed by a 22-year-old OFW in Jeddah against her agency’s representative was settled for Php 750, 000 or Dh 53,000, DOLE Secretary, Silvestre Bello III said.
According to reports, the OFW is now at the Bahay Kalinga as the Philippine Consulate General in Jeddah is handling the case and processing her return to the Philippines. “The victim is being assisted now by the Assistance to Nationals section (ATN) of the Philippine Consulate General in Jeddah,” Bello stated in an interview with the Philippine News Agency.
Although the rape case is awaiting clearance from prosecution, the recruitment agency of the victim, Iemploy Manpower Services Inc., and Madar AlKharj, the agency’s Saudi counterpart, will be investigated and held administratively liable.
In a recent report, Bello stated that DOLE is now investigating the maltreatment of OFWs in Jeddah including the case of four Filipina OFWs who were allegedly forced to work for 10 hours straight in a different household and for another two hours at their original employer.