FILIPINA HELD FOR POSSESSING BULLET AMULET AT BRUNEI AIRPORT FINALLY CLEARED

27 November 2006 – Philippine Ambassador to Brunei Darussalam Virginia H. Benavidez reported to DFA Secretary Alberto G. Romulo that a Filipino female worker who transited Brunei for Dubai, UAE, and was apprehended by Brunei airport police on 04 October 2006 for possession of a bullet in her wallet, has finally been cleared by the police authorities for departure. She left 20 November 2006 for Dubai to take up her long-delayed employment as domestic helper.

In an earlier report, Ambassador Benavidez informed the Department that through the Philippine Embassy’s representations, the Filipina was spared from a possible jail sentence for possession of ammunition, which carries a penalty of 5 to 15 years of imprisonment. The Embassy appealed to the Public Prosecutor for leniency and understanding on the grounds that she was given the bullet as an amulet by an old woman whom she met in 2002 when she had difficulties getting pregnant. She got pregnant a couple of months after receiving the amulet, and decided to keep it, not knowing that it was a bullet.

The OFW stayed at the Embassy’s Filipino Workers’ Resource Center while waiting for the police clearance that would allow her to leave Brunei.  In the meantime, Post’s Labor Attache arranged for the revalidation of the OFW’s employment visa in Dubai with her recruitment agency, MJCL International Placement Agency, which rebooked her flight to Dubai so that the OFW could pursue her employment there.

While at the Resources Center, the Filipina joined regular Sunday Christian services and outreach services conducted by Filipino Christian groups, from which she gained spiritual growth and derived strength to cope with her plight. She left Brunei with a grateful heart and fond memories of people who assisted her. She wrote a letter of thanks to Ambassador Benavidez and the “Ang Bahay” Christian Family Fellowship. END

/epa

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