kirei
08-18-2007, 11:14 PM
Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago filed a resolution on Thursday seeking an legislative inquiry on the rising incidents of rape against Filipino women overseas.
The resolution seeks to take off from the reported plight of a domestic helper known only as “Melissa" who is purportedly used as a sex slave by her employer’s son in Saudi Arabia.
“The number of rapes committed against our overseas Filipina workers is deplorable," Santiago said in the resolution asking the Senate committee on foreign relations to initiate the probe.
“The perpetration of sexual abuse, not only against Melissa but also against all other female OFWs, should not be allowed to continue," Santiago said.
The senator wants the Department of Foreign Affairs and the Department of Labor and Employment to jointly establish mechanisms in Philippine consulates abroad for receiving rape complaints, assisting Filipina victims, and ensuring that sexual abuse is not tolerated in the foreign countries where they serve.
The legislative inquiry is meant to draw up measures to ensure the safety and protection of Filipino domestic helpers like “Melissa."
Leila Cabinian, an OFW who recently returned from Saudi Arabia, brought the case of “Melissa" to the public attention by showing a video of an actual rape incident which was shown on television.
But when Vice President Noli de Castro, concurrently a presidential adviser on OFWs, called Cabinian to a meeting at his office - along with Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) chief Marianito Roque and Foreign Affairs Undersecretary for Migrant Workers Esteban Conejos Jr.- Cabinian said she the woman looked like the “Melissa" whom she met at a party in December but was not sure it was her.
De Castro said he had instructed OWWA to check its database and track down every woman deployed with the name “Melissa," particularly those from Bulacan, in order to locate the “Melissa" allegedly used as a sex slave in Saudi. -
other links:
http://www.gmanews.tv/story/56143/Yet-another-raped-Pinay-comes-home-from-Jeddah
http://www.gmanews.tv/story/56184/Isa-pang-inabusong-Pinay-sa-Saudi-dumating-sa-NAIA
source: GMANews.TV
The resolution seeks to take off from the reported plight of a domestic helper known only as “Melissa" who is purportedly used as a sex slave by her employer’s son in Saudi Arabia.
“The number of rapes committed against our overseas Filipina workers is deplorable," Santiago said in the resolution asking the Senate committee on foreign relations to initiate the probe.
“The perpetration of sexual abuse, not only against Melissa but also against all other female OFWs, should not be allowed to continue," Santiago said.
The senator wants the Department of Foreign Affairs and the Department of Labor and Employment to jointly establish mechanisms in Philippine consulates abroad for receiving rape complaints, assisting Filipina victims, and ensuring that sexual abuse is not tolerated in the foreign countries where they serve.
The legislative inquiry is meant to draw up measures to ensure the safety and protection of Filipino domestic helpers like “Melissa."
Leila Cabinian, an OFW who recently returned from Saudi Arabia, brought the case of “Melissa" to the public attention by showing a video of an actual rape incident which was shown on television.
But when Vice President Noli de Castro, concurrently a presidential adviser on OFWs, called Cabinian to a meeting at his office - along with Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) chief Marianito Roque and Foreign Affairs Undersecretary for Migrant Workers Esteban Conejos Jr.- Cabinian said she the woman looked like the “Melissa" whom she met at a party in December but was not sure it was her.
De Castro said he had instructed OWWA to check its database and track down every woman deployed with the name “Melissa," particularly those from Bulacan, in order to locate the “Melissa" allegedly used as a sex slave in Saudi. -
other links:
http://www.gmanews.tv/story/56143/Yet-another-raped-Pinay-comes-home-from-Jeddah
http://www.gmanews.tv/story/56184/Isa-pang-inabusong-Pinay-sa-Saudi-dumating-sa-NAIA
source: GMANews.TV