SAUDI ARABIA

Social media post jeopardizes repatriation of Filipina expat worker for 4 years

April 14, 2018

Irfan Mohammed



Saudi Gazette

JEDDAH — Expatriate workers in Kingdom, especially those who air their grievances through social media, should be cautious and careful in their postings. In some cases, it may add to their woes and can complicate their grievance while also jeopardizing their repatriation process.

A Filipina domestic worker, who was engaged in series of protracted legal battles and unable to travel back home for four years for a social media post, has finally returned to home on Friday.

She was repatriated after intense efforts from Philippine government and direct intervention of President Rodrigo Duterte, who pursued the case at highest level. Philippine Ambassador Adnan V. Alonto accompanied the distressed worker back home.

The repatriated woman is set to meet President Duterte on Saturday.

Pahima P. Alagasi, 26, from Pikit, North Cotabato, was employed as a household service worker. She sustained burns injury with the worker alleging that the employer’s mother in Riyadh allegedly poured boiling water on her in 2014.

She escaped from her employer while undergoing treatment for her burn injuries at a medical center and sought refuge at the Philippine Embassy shelter in Riyadh in May, 2014, according to Philippine mission officials.

Alagasi filed a maltreatment complaint against her employer but the case was dismissed after she failed to prove her accusation, they explained.

The employer also filed a case against Alagasi for damaging her reputation through social media postings and demanded quarter million riyals in compensation. The case went through several procedures. Besides the legal battle, a huroob (absconding) notification also prevented her repatriation.

“After a long legal battle with her employers that lasted four years, Alagasi was finally able to secure her final exit from the Kingdom, with the assistance of Saudi Interior Minister Prince Abdulaziz Bin Saud,” said a statement issued by Philippine Embassy here.

Ambassador Alonto presented Alagasi to Deputy Minister of Interior Dr. Nasser A. Al Daood last week, where they were officially informed by the latter that Alagasi would now be able to return to the Philippines. Deputy Minster Al Daood also presented to Alagasi two months worth of her unpaid salaries from her employer, the statement reads.

Exhibiting care for its compatriots, Philippine Embassy not only provided her boarding and lodging for four years it also provided legal assistance in her complicated case. Besides legal battle, the embassy used its diplomatic channels to secure her exit visa successfully.


April 14, 2018
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