2 Pinoy domestic workers left behind in Syria mansion

MANILA, Philippines - Two Filipino domestic workers were left behind in a heavily guarded mansion in Damascus, Syria, a non-government organization said yesterday.

Susan Ople, Blas F. Ople Policy Center president, said Juliet Lapaza and Cristina Garay have sought help in seeking repatriation after their employer and his family left them to clean and look after the family’s mansion with armed guards posted at the gates.

The employer of the two Filipinas is reportedly a close relative of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

Their employer has been gone from Syria for more than three months now.

They are not aware of his location because only the caretaker is allowed to contact their employer overseas.

Contrary to a contract they signed in Manila, Lapaza and Garay are receiving a monthly salary of $150 instead of the government-prescribed minimum salary of $400.

Ople asked Vice President Jejomar Binay and Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario to work for the immediate repatriation of Lapaza and Garay.

“We appeal to the Philippine and Syrian governments to work together to ensure the safe return of Juliet and Cristina to their respective families in Mindanao, keeping in mind their rights under ILO Convention 189 that prescribes decent work for all domestic workers,” she said.

Syria also has its own anti-trafficking law in place just like the Philippines, she added.

The Blas F.Ople Policy Center, a non-profit organization, expressed its appreciation for the understanding between the Philippine and Syrian governments to enable OFWs to come home even without the required exit clearances.

“This shows that the channels of communication between the two countries are working thus we remain hopeful that the plight of the two domestic workers left behind in a heavily-guarded mansion in Damascus can be similarly resolved,” the Center said.

Ople said the two OFWs have complained to her of hunger since the caretaker is the only person able to visit the mansion to bring them food.

“These two women asked to be brought back to the Philippine embassy, while the employer was preparing to leave Syria,” she said.

“The request of the two women was ignored, and now they couldn’t leave the heavily-guarded mansion though the Philippine embassy is located just a few minutes from where they are.”

Ople said Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Rafael Seguis had met the relatives of the two women, and promised to elevate their concerns to the top officials of Syria.

“We are praying that the initiatives taken by Undersecretary Seguis would bear fruit because both families are deeply concerned over the state of mind and physical safety of Juliet and Cristina,” she said.

Ople said while she is hopeful given the promise of Seguis to help the two OFWs, they decided to issue a more public appeal at the request of both families to see Lapaza and Garay among the succeeding batches of OFWs to be sent home from Syria.

“We urge everyone to pray for Juliet Lapaza and Cristina Garay and all other OFWs trapped in difficult circumstances in Syria so that they may soon come home,” she said.

Ople expressed concern that several others may be trapped in similar situations, where their employers have left them behind to guard empty houses despite the continuous outbreak of hostilities.

“It is a herculean task and we fully support the heroic efforts of the Philippine embassy in Syria and the Department of Foreign Affairs to bring home as many OFWs as possible,” she said.