DFA dispels report of genital mutilation of OFW

MANILA, Philippines — A viral social media post claiming a Filipina household worker in Bahrain suffered genital mutilation from her employer is inaccurate, the Department of Foreign Affairs said Monday.

Due to the wide spread of this false information, the DFA appealed to Filipinos abroad to avoid posting unverified information on social media.

"While we appreciate the concern extended by our kababayan abroad about this particular case, we should also be careful about posting something of this kind on social media without first checking its veracity," DFA Undersecretary for Migrant Workers Affairs Sarah Lou Arriola said.

'Every complaint is taken seriously'

Lamenting the posting of a video of a distraught Filipina on social media, Arriola said that the Philippines has to protect the interests of the victim while maintaining relations with the Gulf statee.

"Every complaint is taken seriously and is investigated. It does not need to go viral in social media," Arriola said.

The Filipino involved in the video was already in the Philippines when the post went viral on social media, according to Ambassador to Manama Alfonso Ver.

No signs of genital mutilation

Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano ordered the victim brought to the hospital and undergo medical examination, the DFA said.

The medical test showed the victim had signs of physical abuse and post traumatic stress disorder.

"Doctors said that upon examination, the victim had no indications whatsoever of genital mutilation," Ver said.

The DFA will assist the victim, who is undergoing continuous medical care , and will also provide her family with financial assistance.

The Philippine Embassy, on the other hand, confirmed that the Filipina was underpaid. She was being paid BD90 instead of BD150 monthly.

According to Ver, the embassy had gotten in touch with officials of the Bahrain Labour Market Regulatory Authority, who have promised to cooperate in the investigation. — Patricia Lourdes Viray