Binay helps 5 OFWs from UAE

MANILA, Philippines – Vice President Jejomar Binay was expected to arrive in Manila last night with five distressed overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) from the United Arab Emirates.

The five – Rosminda Baui, Belsie Espine, Leowilyn Tan, Angelyn Tak, and Lucrecia Insesto – claimed harassment and abuse by their employers. 

“Even if they were not able to go home last December, still this is the most beautiful gift for them and their families,” Binay, who concluded his three-day visit to the Gulf state yesterday, said in a statement.

Binay, the former presidential adviser on OFW concerns, said he and his supporters provided for the plane tickets as he called on the government to provide clearer guidelines for the repatriation of undocumented workers.

Both Baui, a 27-year-old single mother from Isabela, and Insesto, who is from Zamboanga Sibugay, claimed of physical abuse by their employers. Baui got the chance to run away on Dec. 23, 2015. 

Espine, a native of E.B. Magalona, Negros Occidental, was supposed to go home last Sept. 21 but failed after her employer refused the issuance of a visa. She also paid a penalty for overstaying.

Tan, who comes from Lanao del Sur, claimed sexual harassment by the marketing manager of her agency in Dubai, while Tak said she was forced to work as a domestic helper when the contract she signed was for a waitress.

Tak, who hails from Saranggani, complained of low salary and verbal abuse.

Binay vowed to assist in the investigation of the cases, especially those who were given jobs different from what was promised.