Pinay held captive by UAE employment firm returns home

KIMBERLY JANE T. TAN, GMANews.TV
May 19, 2009

MANILA, Philippines - A Filipina worker who was once held like a prisoner by her employment firm in the United Arab Emirates has finally returned to the Philippines.

Overseas Filipino worker (OFW) Maria Caridad “Maricar" Evangelista Laganzo arrived in Manila via Gulf Air on Monday at 11:10 a.m.

Laganzo went to Dubai in October 2007 to work as a domestic helper but was reportedly maltreated by her employer who threw a chair at her, denied her proper wages, and even threatened to send her to jail.

But after several media people took interest in the plight of the 35-year-old OFW, her employer sent her back to her employment agency, the Al-Doukhi Labour Supply.

The agency then locked her inside a small kitchen without any ventilation and adequate food supplies. [See: Pinay held like a prisoner by UAE employment firm]

Having heard this, militant groups Anakpawis and Migrante International held a picket in front of the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) office on October 3, 2008 to demand action on the plight of runaway OFWs in Middle East countries.

The POEA, however, said it was not in a position to help Laganzo because she is an undocumented OFW.

“On our part, wala kaming matetake na action dahil undocumented siya (we cannot take action because she is undocumented), maybe the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA_ can help them," said POEA Administrator Jennifer Manalili.

Philippine embassies, along with their labor and OWWA components, have a standing policy of helping any OFW, whether legally deployed or not.

The POEA, on the other hand, is limited to helping only the documented since its role is limited to regulating recruitment or manpower agencies.

Laganzo, meanwhile, escaped from her agency two days later.

She immediately went to the OWWA center in Dubai where support from the Filipino community poured in. [See: OFW escapes recruiter in Dubai, seeks help from RP embassy]

Anakpawis and Migrante then sought the help of Senator Manuel Villar, who is known for helping distressed OFWs, to help in the repatriation of Laganzo.

“Maricar’s family has long been waiting for her repatriation after her ordeal in the Middle East, and we are happy that she has returned safe and whole," said the senator. - GMANews.TV