Abused OFW in DOLE custody

MANILA, Philippines - The overseas office of the Department of Labor and Employment has taken custody an overseas Filipino worker (OFW) who was allegedly maltreated by her employer in Amman, Jordan, an official said yesterday.

Josalyn Ombe, 35, is now with the Philippine Overseas Labor Office, said labor attaché Florenda Herrera.

Ombe posted on her Facebook account that her employer, whom she identified as Ahmed Saleem Marashdeh, deprived her of food and overworked her.

She said she wanted to leave after her employer lost his mobile phone and she feared she would be accused of stealing it.

DOLE said it is monitoring Ombe’s case and working on what legal action she can take against her employer.

Meanwhile, DOLE also extended assistance to the family of OFW Felma Dalupang-Maramag, who was killed along with her employer in Jordan on Feb. 5.

Two Jordanian workers attacked and killed Maramag’s employer over unpaid wages then turned on Maramag.

“Felma is one of the modern heroes of this generation. She should be honored for her sacrifices to provide better living for her family,” said DOLE Secretary Silvestre Bello III.

Since Maramag had been an active member of the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), her mother, Natividad Dalupang, and daughter Angelica received P220,000 financial and scholarship assistance; P50,000 from the recruitment agency and P500,000 in life insurance benefits, he said.