Press Release
June 5, 2009

Battered OFW bares ordeal, urges attention to distressed OFWs

Recovering from a skull fracture inflicted by her foreign employers, an overseas Filipino worker (OFW) has decided to come out in the open to tell lurid details of her story to warn the public and call attention to the plight of other OFWs helpless in the Middle East.

Janette Nudalo, 43, separated, with three children, and who arrived in the country from Riyadh recently via Cathay Pacific flight CY 919 with airfare of P26,125 (SAR 2,026) sponsored by Nacionalista Party president Manny Villar, showed results of her x-ray indicating "linear fracture with sclerotic edges at the top of the skull." Due to severe pain, she was placed on top priority for repatriation from Saudi Arabia.

"Ako po ay ni-rape ng amo ko at kanyang 17 taong gulang na anak. Sa aking pagpalag, sabi ng bata, 'ginagawa ng tatay ko, kaya't gagawin ko din,'" Nudalo said, "Noong gagahasain uli ako ng ama niya, tumakas na ako."

"Ako ay sinasaktan, hinahataw ng extension wire, pinagpapapalo ng kahoy ng mop, tinatadyakan, hanggang sa maging duguan, paulit-ulit.

"Nakuha ko ang basag sa ulo noong napagbuntunan ako ng amo kong babae, hinawakan niya ang buhok kong dati ay mahaba, at ibinalya ako sa pader ng tatlong beses," she said.

With the help of Migrante International, Nudalo was able to escape from her hellish employment as a household service worker. She called up Migrante members in Riyadh who paid for her taxi and brought her to Bahay Kalinga. She earlier met a member while with her female employer, and gave her his calling card upon noticing Janette had bruises all over her face and body.

"Ni minsan hindi ako gumanti dahil baka ipakulong nila ako. Ang sabi sa akin kapag nagsumbong ako, sasagasaan na lang nila ako at sasabihing aksidente ang lahat. Sambit pa ng amo ko, hindi kita titigilan (ng pananakit) hanggang baliw ka na pag-uwi ng Pilipinas," the OFW said.

But Janette did not lose her mind despite her ordeal which began about three months after she arrived in the house of her employer on Dec. 22, 2005, evolving to the worst in May 2008. Not only battered and abused, she returned home empty-handed after failing to get an equivalent of her one-year salary.

In 1997, Janette's husband left her for another woman while she was still working in Taiwan. One of her children broke the news, advising her to stop sending money to their father because he got a new woman in their house.

Last April 29, the house in Kalookan where her children were staying was also demolished. "Hers is one of the worst stories brought to my attention. I strongly condemn the bestiality she suffered which must be meted out justice," emphasized Senator Villar, who put up a helpline dedicated to distressed Filipino migrant workers.

The senator, who sponsored her medical treatment, called on the government to intensify and expedite assistance to distressed migrant workers "to save the lives of many more OFWs like Janette and render them the necessary justice."

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