Last October 6, 2016, the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) gave a P50,000 cash assistance to an overseas Filipino worker (OFW) who was abused by her employer in Doha, Qatar.
29-year-old Marichu Tampol Villar, who is originally from Matanao, Davao Del Sur, returned to the Philippines last month after being employed as a household helper in Qatar. She was physically abused by her employer and had burns and bruises in her face, back, and other body parts after her employer attacked her using a flat iron. Her feet and legs were likewise burned because of hot water. She also had a lip scar which she got when her employer kicked her in the face.
According to Eduardo Bellido, Regional Director of OWWA Davao, Villar arrived in Manila on September 30 and then flew back to Davao City without the knowledge of her family.
“Her family was shocked by her horrible condition and appearance, Bellido shared. “According to her, she was severely beaten and abused by her female employer.”
Villar’s family immediately took her to the Davao del Sur Provincial Hospital, Digos City, where she received immediate medical attention. She was eventually confined for medication and laboratory testing.
Along with Bellido and other OWWA-Davao officers, OWWA Administrator Hans Leo Cacdac visited Villar to check on her condition. She also received a cash assistance worth P50,000 to help her in her medical needs. Cacdad also assured the family that OWWA will help not only in the medical expenses but also for scholarship and livelihood assistance.
Aside from the physical assault, Villar complained that her employer failed to send her salary amounting to P60,000. She said that her employer was supposed to transmit P26,000 on March 26 via Western Union and then another P34,000 on July but not a single peso was ever sent.
As of the moment, OWWA-Davao is waiting for Villar’s medical report so they can use it as an evidence against her employer.
h/t: sunstar