ISABELA, Negros Occidental Mayor Miguel Yulo (left) talks to the husband of an overseas Filipino worker (OFW) to determine interventions after she was recently rescued from an abusive employer in Saudi Arabia. (Mayor Miguel Yulo FB)
BACOLOD CITY – The municipality of Isabela in Negros Occidental is coordinating with concerned government agencies for the repatriation of an overseas Filipino worker (OFW) allegedly abused in Saudi Arabia.
Mayor Miguel Yulo, in a media interview, announced that one of his constituents, who worked as a domestic helper, was rescued and transferred to a shelter in close coordination with the Philippine Embassy in Saudi Arabia.
"We're happy to know that she will be returning home safe and sound," he added.
Yulo said the OFW's husband reached out to his office on May 7 complaining about his wife's situation in Saudi Arabia even before her photo showing her situation went viral on social media.
The mayor said it took them three months to process her repatriation and are in active contact with her agency and the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW).
He is hoping that the OFW would reunite with her family soon.
The mayor assured assistance to the OFW and her family as they begin a journey back home. "She's okay now, and we're just waiting for the schedule of her return," he said.
The OFW's husband said his wife had difficulty talking to her, had no cellphone, was locked up, and that her employer would send a portion of her undisclosed salary to the family, alarming and prompting him to seek help from the local government. He is now awaiting her arrival to their hometown.
The OFW fled her employer's house last week and rescued by an OFW couple. She arrived in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia to work in December 2023.
A photo circulating on social media showed the before and after appearances of the OFW who was reportedly on an extended contract.
Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson said the provincial government is willing to provide assistance to the family to help them start anew.
Lacson said he learned the incident this week. "When she's back here, we will address the situation."