POEA suspends 2 agencies over abused OFW

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) has suspended two agencies that recruited a Filipina who was maltreated by her employer in Saudi Arabia, an official said yesterday.

A-M Phil. Professional Services Corp. and Saudi-based Al Motkasses Recruitment Office/Almotkasses Office for Gen. Services were slapped with preventive suspension for violating the POEA’s rules and regulations on the recruitment of land-based workers.

The POEA also blacklisted Adil Akmad Badjuid, the employer of Pahima Alagasi Palacasi, 23, who hails from Malapaan in Pikit, Cotabato.

“An order of preventive suspension (OPS) had been served against these entities yesterday after the POEA found strong evidence showing that they committed serious violations in processing the employment documents of Palacasi, who was deployed as household service worker to… Saudi Arabia,” Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz, who oversees the POEA, said.

Palacasi’s case went viral after photographs of her wounds were posted by her cousin on the social networking site Facebook last May 17.

She is now under the care of Filipino diplomats at the Bahay Kalinga in the Philippine embassy in Saudi Arabia.

POEA records showed that Palacasi was deployed to Riyadh last March by A-M Phil through Al Motkases, which turned her over to Badjuid, in whose home she worked as a helper.

After a few days of staying in the house of Badjuid, Palacasi complained of homesickness and constantly cried. She was allegedly being constantly “kicked and lashed by her male employer.”

The employer brought Palacasi back to Al Motkases. She was then transferred to the house of her employer’s mother who, on May 4, “poured boiled water” over her due to a simple misunderstanding as the mother could not speak English.

The records showed the two agencies “did not render any assistance to Palacasi after she suffered maltreatment at the hands of her employer.”

According to POEA administrator Hans Leo Cacdac, A-M Phil. is suspended from recruiting any more Filipinos.

Meanwhile, Sen. Cynthia Villar said yesterday her office will assist Palacasi in her medical treatment once she returns to the Philippines. – With Christina Mendez