The overseas Filipino worker (OFW) from Saudi who was tied to a tree by her employers has returned home to her family in Bauang, La Union.
It can be recalled that the story of Lovely Acosta Ruelo went viral on social media after netizens cried foul over the online photos which show her tied to a tree as punishment.
Ruelo, who worked as a domestic helper in Riyadh, told a report on 24 Oras that she and her co-workers had taken the household’s chairs outside just like what they do on a normal basis.
However, her employer got mad that they took out the chairs because it is being exposed under the sunlight.
Ruelo’s employer then grabbed her by the collar twice before she was tied to the tree.
She said that she was left there for seven hours, from 2:00 PM to 9:00 PM.
The Philippine Embassy in Riyadh reported her case on May 9 and was repatriated to Manila on the same day.
Ruelo said that she could have experienced a worse punishment if her employer had not been observing Ramadan.
No further details were given by the DFA and whether the government is planning to pursue legal actions on Ruelo’s employers.
