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POEA, OWWA snub OFW plight in Saudi

BAGUIO CITY (Nov. 16) — Filipina domestic helper in Saudi Arabia Loreta Dulay Gali, 25, had reportedly been ill for months now.

Her family back in Laoac town in Pangasinan had also been sleepless for months as they are keeping track of developments on their kin that seem very elusive with an apparent government’s inaction.

Loreta’s older sister Remedios, 27, has been going back and forth to the offices of the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) and the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) here in the city.

She got uncertain answers though. “All their answers are vague, sometimes irritating,” Remedios ranted in Filipino. “My insistence on the safety of my sister is even irritating them to the point that they shouted to shoo me away,” she added.

Loreta, according to Remedios had been working in Riyadh since June 18, 2003 as a domestic helper in a private house. In September, after this year Remedios received a call from Loreta who said she was ill and wanted to come home.

Loreta’s last call to Remedios was on October 22 at around 4 PM (Philippine time), the latter said her younger sister was very ill from flu.

Remedios went to the POEA and the OWWA more than a week ago to ask if the government is repatriating her sister. She again got uncertain replies.

“Para akong ginagawang basketball na pinagpapasa-pasahan dun,” (I was made into a basketball that they passed around) she complained.

The POEA, Remedios said, had already made a repatriation order on October 7, but one month after, Loreta is still in Saudi uncertain of her health and future there.

Remedios also asked officials of the private agency Mine Resources Corporation based in Malate, Manila what they can do with the situation of Loreta. She got uncertain answers too.

Worse, she said, in both her letters to the agency, she was assured that her sister is in top shape despite her sister’s personal call to her.

On October 3, Remedios again called up the said agency to ask any development and she was reportedly assured that another OFW is due to replace Loreta.

However, on October 6, the supposed replacement did not reportedly pass the medical tests, thus Loreta is being held still.

Remedios even showed a photocopy of Loreta’s supposed plane ticket back to the country from Riyadh on October 25 via Cathay Pacific Airways allegedly shown by Mine Resources Corp.

Loreta, however, was not on that plane. She is still in Riyadh.

OWWA’s emissary in Riyadh whom Remedios had been in contact with via cellular phones had not reported any new development on the case of Loreta.

Loreta’s condition? Still Unknown!

Her family back home said they are losing hope. # Ace Alegre for NORDIS

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