OFW traced to Oman jail

A female overseas Filipino worker (OFW), earlier reported as missing, was finally repatriated to the Philippines last week after officials of the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) traced her to a jail in the Sultanate of Oman.

A tearful Mercia Cultura, who had been working as a domestic helper in Oman for four years, expressed her gratitude to OWWA officials upon arrival at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport last week.

She was met at the airport by her husband Conrado Pines, who sought OWWA’s assistance in locating her.

In an exclusive interview, Cultura narrated that she personally went to the Omani police last month after escaping from a cruel Omani national who promised to give her a job while she was hiding from authorities as an overstaying worker.

Cultura admitted illegally staying in Oman to earn more, after her contract as domestic helper expired two years ago.

"At that time, I made up my mind not to return to the Philippines until I earned enough for my family’s future. I did not know that my decision will only make my life miserable in Oman," she said in Tagalog.

According to Cultura, a certain Gulam Mohammad al-Balusi, whom she described as an influential Omani, would contract households for her services and would pocket her earnings. She said she met other overstaying Filipinas employed by Al-Balusi, but they were kept apart.

She said she was made a virtual slave by Al-Balusi, who threatened to report her to the police as an overstaying alien if she would not follow his order.

One time, Cultura said, she was able to escape from Al-Balusi and sought refuge at the OWWA center in Oman but was abducted by him when she made the mistake of leaving the center alone. Since then, Al-Balusi would lock her up and change houses frequently to escape detection.

When Cultura escaped on her second try, she volunteered to be detained at the Rumish, Oman jail to avoid Al-Balusi. She was finally traced to the jail by OWWA officials led by administrator Rajah Jumaldin after more than two weeks.

Jumaldin immediately worked for her release, including two other detained Filipinas, by paying the fines for their overstaying.

"We are very grateful to Sir Jumaldin, especially when he handed our plane tickets. All of us were crying and hugging him," Cultura said.

For his part, Cultura’s husband extolled the efforts of OWWA officials in Manila who provided him updates on the whereabouts of his wife.

Pines is now making inquiries on how to prosecute the Omani who victimized his wife and other hapless Filipinas. – Nestor Etolle