Saudi OFW Being Physically Abused by Employer’s Sibling Asks for Help

Netizen Naijlez Azenadro who works as an overseas Filipino worker (OFW) in Saudi Arabia posted on Facebook a story about an encounter with another OFW she met at Corniche Beach in Al Khobar, Saudi Arabia.

According to Azenadro, she and her companions were waiting for a vehicle bound for home when she noticed the other OFW, identified as Renalyn Tominez, seemingly wanting to give her a note crumpled in her hands.

Understanding that Tominez is afraid her employers will see her give the note, Azenadro pretended to sit at the chair close to where the other group was waiting. Tominez quickly threw the note to Azenadro; the latter was shocked to find a note pleading for help.

A Shocking Plea for Help

Tominez, who hails from Lupao, Nueva Ecija in the Philippines, narrated in her note that the sibling of her female employer has been physically abusing her since November 24, slapping her face and punching her body. She implored her family to help her escape her abusers by asking help from her agency’s headquarters in Manila, Philippines.

She also revealed that she could not personally ask for help from her family because her employers confiscated her cellphone. Thankfully, she memorized her family’s contact numbers and included this on her note so that someone could message them on her behalf.

Azenadro posted the story on her Facebook account where it quickly went viral, with thousands of people sharing it so that it would reach Tominez’s family or that someone could contact them. Of course, Azenadro could have contacted the family herself yet there is no denying that a viral story on social media would get more attention from the authorities.

Within a few days after it was posted on Facebook, the Tominez’s family was already contacted by helpful netizens. Her family is now doing what they can to go to Manila to ask help from the agency and relevant authorities.