Saudi OFW forced by employer to drink bleach

MANILA, Philippines — An overseas Filipino worker (OFW) in Saudi Arabia was allegedly forced by her employer to drink household bleach, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said yesterday.

Agnes Mancilla, a domestic helper, remains in serious condition at the King Fahad Central Hospital in Jizan in southwestern Saudi Arabia, according to the DFA.

The Philippine consulate general in Jeddah is coordinating with authorities in Saudi Arabia in connection with the case of Mancilla.

“We would like to assure our kababayans that we are working closely with authorities in Jizan to make sure that justice will be given to Agnes Mancilla,” Consul General Edgar Badajos said.

Mancilla was rushed unconscious by members of the Filipino community to the hospital on April 2 after her female employer allegedly forced her to ingest household bleach. 

The Filipina worker underwent laparotomy to flush out the bleach from her stomach. Doctors also found burn marks on her back, Badajos said.

Consulate officials visited Mancilla in the hospital and made representations with the authorities in Jizan.

Mancilla’s employer has been arrested by police.

“The consulate will regularly send representatives to Jizan to follow up her case with the police and to monitor her condition,” Badajos said.

He said the consulate general has requested the assistance of the Filipino community in Jizan to help monitor the condition of Mancilla.

The DFA said Mancilla has been working in Saudi Arabia since 2016. She was maltreated by her employer and was not being paid her salary.

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