Gov’t to continue assistance for acquitted OFW

MANILA, Philippines -  Jennifer Dalquez, the Filipina domestic helper who has been acquitted of murder in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), will continue to receive assistance from the government, an official said yesterday.

Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) chief Hans Cacdac said the government would continue to provide help to Dalquez until she returns home.

Dalquez, 30, was acquitted of murder by the Court of Appeals in Al Ain on June 19 for killing her employer who tried to rape her in December 2014.

 “Upon the instruction of Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello, we will continue to help Dalquez and her family,” Cacdac said.

He noted that OWWA granted Dalquez livelihood assistance that enabled her family to put up their own store and eatery as well as scholarship for her eldest child.

Labor Undersecretary Dominador Say said the government may help members of Dalquez’s family if they want to visit her in the UAE.

“The government can help them get visas or shoulder their travel expenses,” Say said.

Bello belied news reports that a labor attaché has been recalled for failing to help Dalquez during her trial.

“She was acquitted. So we should commend the labor attaché for that,” he said.

Bello said he ordered a review of Dalquez’s records to check if she can be released from prison earlier.

Although Dalquez was cleared of murder, she was sentenced to five years in prison for stealing a cell phone.

“We are checking the records of the case because if she has been jailed for more than five years, we can ask for her immediate release as the court decision provides that her detention will be deducted from her imprisonment,” Bello said.

Meanwhile, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has provided assistance to 1,035 overseas Filipino workers recently repatriated under the 90-day amnesty program of Saudi Arabia.

The amnesty program, which started on March 29, was offered by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for undocumented Filipino workers and other foreign residents who want to go back to their countries of origin.

Hjayceelyn Quintana, Department of Foreign Affairs assistant secretary for Middle East and African Affairs, said around 15,000 Filipinos are qualified for the amnesty. – With Rainier Allan Ronda