20 July 2005 – Philippine Ambassador to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Bahnarim A. Guinomla reported to the Department of Foreign Affairs that the Philippine Embassy in Riyadh is closely following up with police authorities, the complaints of two female Filipino workers who both claim to have suffered maltreatment from their employers.

The Philippine Embassy sent officers to meet with the concerned authorities to facilitate the  investigation and resolution of the two cases, as the Police have not completed their own investigations yet.

Ambassador Guinomla also reported that the Philippine Embassy has already requested to take custody of the two OFWs, who have accused their employers of maltreatment.

According to the Embassy’s report, Ms. Noemi Tigue was hospitalized at the King Fahd University Hospital in Al-Khobar in the Eastern Province on 25 May 2005.  Ambassador Guinomla visited Ms. Tigue on 30 May and learned that the Filipino suffered injuries to the head and other parts of the body.

Ambassador Guinomla informed the DFA that Ms. Tigue is recuperating and is now in the care of the Saudi Social Welfare Administration in Dammam, where she is awaiting the resolution of he case.

Ambassador Guinomla said that they are also closely monitoring the case of Ms. Rona Mae Mangrubang, who left her employer’s residence on 22 May after her sponsor allegedly subjected her to physical abuse.   Ms. Mangrubang has since filed a case against her employer with the Jubail/Fanateer Police, which subsequently endorsed the case to the Dammam Police.  END