BACOLOD City – A distressed overseas Filipino worker (OFW) from Negros Occidental who allegedly endured months of abuse at the hands of her employer in Saudi Arabia has been rescued and is now under the custody of the Philippine Embassy in Riyadh.
Karen Dinsay, manager of the Negros Occidental Public Employment Service Office (PESO), confirmed that Maria Eva Abastillas, 46, of Isabela town, is currently staying at the Philippine Embassy while the government processes her repatriation.
Dinsay said the Municipal PESO of Isabela has been coordinating with the Philippine Embassy, while the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) and the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) are handling arrangements for Abastillas’ return to the Philippines.
According to Dinsay, OWWA has informed local officials that they will be updated once Abastillas has been issued a flight ticket.
However, Dinsay said that based on her conversation with OWWA and reports from a radio interview with Abastillas’ mother, the OFW has expressed her intention to temporarily remain in Saudi Arabia to pursue a case against her employer for allegedly withholding her salaries.
Once Abastillas returns to the Philippines, the Provincial Government of Negros Occidental has committed to providing assistance, including financial aid, to help her recover and rebuild her life.
Abastillas left for Riyadh in December 2023 in search of better employment opportunities.
In a media interview, her husband, Reymund Abastillas, alleged that she suffered abuse for more than a year while working abroad. He claimed that she was frequently deprived of adequate food, received irregular or unpaid wages, and was allegedly confined by her employer, preventing her from communicating with her family.
Despite her ordeal, Abastillas reportedly found an opportunity to escape. Fellow OFWs immediately came to her aid and helped bring her safely to the Philippine Embassy in Riyadh.
Meanwhile, the local government of Isabela has extended financial assistance to Abastillas’ family and is preparing to provide additional livelihood support while they await her return./PN
