Abused OFW arrives at NAIA

MANILA, Philippines - A 32-year-old overseas Filipino worker (OFW), reportedly abused by her employer in Saudi Arabia, arrived at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport yesterday morning.

Mary Ann Corona Garcera was standing in one corner of the customs area with a piece of luggage beside her for over an hour after arriving at around 10:30 a.m.

Another OFW, Normiah Solumpong, who is on vacation from her job in Riyadh, told authorities Garcera was endorsed to her by a Filipina Muslim and an Egyptian at the airport.

Solumpong said Garcera was reportedly treated like an “animal” by her employer, who made her work more than 12 hours a day and fed her “leftovers or spoiled food.”

Garcera left the country for Riyadh last July 19 to work as a domestic helper for an employer identified only as Mohammed Alshuiman in Riyadh.

Customs and immigration personnel contacted the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration, whose representative reportedly told them to “just turn over Garcera to her agency,” according to Mitch Itumay of the Manila International Airport Authority public affairs office.