Government suspends agency over OFW’s rape

MANILA, Philippines – The government has barred the recruitment agency that deployed a Filipina who died in Saudi Arabia after being raped from recruiting and deploying other overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) abroad.

“We have commenced an investigation and in the meantime, we have suspended (domestic helper Irma) Edloy’s Philippine recruiter,” Rejoice Recruitment, Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) chief Hans Cacdac said yesterday.

Cacdac noted that the POEA has also suspended the license of the Edloy’s Saudi recruiter as well as blacklisted her Arab employer from hiring other Filipino workers.

Edloy suffered a stroke after seeing her alleged rapist at the hospital where she was confined. She died a few days later.

Based on initial investigation, Edloy arrived in Riyadh last July 28.

Labor Undersecretary Joel Maglunsod said days before her death, Edloy called her local employer to seek help for immediate repatriation.

“It appeared that she was maltreated by her employer, that is why she asked for immediate repatriation,”Maglunsod said.

He also noted that a number of OFWs deployed by Rejoice have previously sought repatriation, prompting the government to suspend its license.

The government is undertaking efforts to repatriate Edloy’s remains, but Maglunsod said this may take weeks because of the ongoing investigation in Saudi Arabia.