OWWA denies Filipino nurses were gang-raped in Saudi

MANILA, Philippines - The Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) yesterday denied reports that four Filipino nurses were gang-raped in Saudi Arabia.

 OWWA chief Carmelita Dimzon said the Philippine labor and welfare officers in Saudi Arabia verified the report from a non-government organization and found it untrue.

“We have sent our welfare officers to verify the reports and they informed us that the Philippine embassy in Saudi has not received any information concerning such incident,” she said.

Hospital administrators in Saudi Arabia also said no Filipino victims of gang rape were confined there.

“They also spoke with some Filipino nurses working in those hospitals and they, too, denied there have been victims of the alleged gang rape among them,” Dimzon said.                                                       

The nurses said that if they noticed that a co-worker has been missing or discovered assaulted, they would have reported the incident to the Philippine embassy or labor office.       

The Filipino community in the Middle East nation maintains a close security system.

“Our Filipino communities operate a 24/7 phone network, spread information with speed, know how to obtain accurate information, and contact the embassy for quick help. In case of a crime or when threatened, they know that consular presence would make the local police treat their complaints with importance and with urgency,” Dimzon said. 

Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz, however, still instructed the Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO) in Saudi to continue verifying the report.