Help sought in locating 3 Cebuanas in Lebanon

Families of three Cebuana Overseas Filipino Workers in Lebanon appealed to the government for help in locating the whereabouts of the three and facilitate their speedy repatriation to the Philippines.

The relatives of Ma. Eva Alota, Dehbra Lao-Pang-an and Marilyn Taladro said they heard no news about the three since war started, and they were not even in the government's list of repatriated or rescued Filipinos who are now in evacuation centers in Lebanon.

OFWs Alota and Pang-an were also earlier reported to be suffering from abuse and sexual harassment by their employers.

The relatives of the three OFWs approached Migrante party-list for assistance, especially for the two OFWs who were allegedly sexually harassed by their male employers.

On July 7, Migrante wrote a letter to Department of Foreign Affairs-7 director Angel Espiritu asking him for help on the immediate repatriation of Ma. Eva, 25.

Romeo Alota, elder brother of Ma. Eva, said that during their telephone conversations, his sister revealed that her male employer is sexually harassing her by hugging her and threatening to harm her if she squeals.

"We are much worried now because with the war, her employer is free to do whatever he wants on her," Romeo said.

According to him, they already complained at the DFA office and were told to just wait for the repatriation of Ma. Eva. The Overseas Workers Welfare Administration also allegedly told them that his sister is in good situation.

Investigation conducted by Migrante also revealed that Ma. Eva is not allowed to take a rest day, have enough food and is being maltreated. Her employers also provided false data on their employers information sheet because it said that they have no children, but Ma. Eva said that she is taking care of four kids.

While waiting for the result on Ma. Eva's case, Migrante received similar complaint from the family of Pang-an, 24, and a resident of Carmen, Cebu.

But unlike Ma. Eva's case, Rustico Lao, father of Pang-an claimed her daughter's employment agency, Non-Stop Overseas Employment Corporation, had asked for P45,000 for her speedy repatriation, but that he got no news about her until now.

Lao said that since Pang-an left for Lebanon in March, she told him that her employer tried to rape her several times and asked her father to help her return to the country soon.

He added that in April he paid Non-Stop P45,000 upon the latter's request for the repatriation of Pang-an but has no development until now. He said that the last time Pang-an called was on July 9. She was just crying and asking her husband to help her return to the Philippines very soon.

Taladro's daughter, Lydia Gumilao said that although her mother's employer is nice, she is worried about her mother's situation because she did not communicate with them since the war erupted in Lebanon.

The last time she called, Taladro reportedly revealed, was when the building next to her employer's house was bombed.

Ritchie Nellas, Migrante Central Visayas coordinator said that upon the request of the families of the three OFWs, they approached the concerned government agencies like the DFA, OWWA and the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration.

However, Nellas said that OWWA told them that their request is moot and academic because the government is already working on the rescue of Filipino workers affected by the armed conflict in Lebanon and is into the facilitating of their speedy repatriation to the Philippines.

He also disclosed that the names of the three OFWs are not in the list of rescued Filipino workers who are now in the evacuation camps. - Wenna A. Berondo