Palace asked to rescue abused Pinay in Saudi

SASMUAN, Pampanga, Philippines – Fearing for her safety, relatives of overseas Filipino worker Josielyn Panlaqui-Layug yesterday appealed to Malacañang to help speed up her rescue from her employers in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

The Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) based in San Fernando City in this province said that on Dec. 29, it notified its office in Riyadh to immediately repatriate Layug.

The relatives said they have been calling Layug since Jan. 1, but she was not answering them.

Jennifer Panlaqui fears for the safety of her sister, who earlier asked to be rescued from her employers.

The OWWA regional office told its Riyadh branch that the employers were subjecting the Filipina to physical and sexual abuse.

In a message posted on social media, Layug’s recruiter, Belan Al-Humayed of the Bison Management Corp., said the agency has been helping rescue and repatriate Layug.

Al-Humayed said they needed to comply first with the procedures imposed by the Saudi government, which she said hampered the rescue.

She cited the need to conduct three hearings at the Philippine Overseas Labor Office in Riyadh, and the issuance of three summonses for the employers.

If nothing happens, the case would be brought to the Saudi police for the possible arrest of the employers and rescue of the victim, she said.

The relatives said the employers apparently prohibit Layug from talking to them, and instead emailed them a photo of Josielyn with her back to the camera as she works in the kitchen.

“We want her alive and safe,” Jennifer said.

Layug left for Riyadh in June last year. Her contract stated she would work as a hairdresser at the Amber Tower Salon for Women. She ended up at the residence of a certain Musfer Al-Qahtan.