CLAIMS that a Filipina housemaid’s genitals were mutilated by her employer in Bahrain have prompted an investigation by diplomats.
The allegations are also being probed by the Philippines Department of Foreign Affairs, in Manila, after the alleged victim, Emma Balela, flew home last Tuesday.
She claims she was not paid, not fed properly and made to sleep with animals during five years of abuse at the hands of a Bahraini employer.
However, the most shocking allegation is that her female employer mutilated her genitals and nipples, resulting in her being admitted to an unnamed hospital in Bahrain last month.
The horrific details were shared with the GDN by plane passenger Stephanie Esguerra, who found Ms Balela in tears as she waited to board her flight out of Bahrain last week.
“After she got discharged (from hospital) she ran away to the airport,” said Ms Esguerra.
“We travelled together to Abu Dhabi, where flight attendants refused to take her (on a connecting flight to the Philippines).
“She was bleeding, despite wearing pampers, and could not sit for eight long hours.
“The next day I got the call from our embassy, which said she boarded a flight the following day.
“Our embassy said she was admitted at St Luke’s Hospital, in Manila, and was being treated.”
Ms Esguerra, a Bahrain resident travelling on holiday to the Philippines, said she had pledged to spread awareness of Ms Balela’s allegations – and took a video of her speaking at the airport, which she posted on social media.
“She said she was kept in a room with animals, but the sponsor’s sister helped her to escape,” added Ms Esguerra.
“She (the employer’s sister) brought a ticket and her passport on the day she was taken to hospital, after the sponsor cut her nipples and her private parts.”
She added Ms Balela was visibly upset while waiting to board her flight out of Bahrain.
“She caught our attention in Bahrain airport, as she was crying and speaking to everybody,” said Ms Esguerra.
“She asked for help and I said I would capture her case on video and spread it in the media.
“She told me she wanted to fight (in court) with her sponsor, in Busaiteen, to get her five years’ salary.”
Vice-consul at the Philippines Embassy in Bahrain, Ricardo Aragon, confirmed that the case was being investigated.
He added Ms Balela had been admitted to hospital upon arrival in Manila.
“The embassy was notified of the incident the same day as the woman left the country by people who saw her at the airport,” he told the GDN.
“We would not like to comment in detail about the case, as the matter is under investigation.
“The woman was met by (Philippine) Foreign Affairs Department officials in Manila and is currently being treated in a hospital.”
Ill treatment of Filipino expatriates in the Gulf made headlines earlier this year, following the murder of a woman in Kuwait.
Joanna Daniela Dimapilis’ body was found stuffed in a freezer at an apartment in Kuwait in February.
The apartment had been abandoned since 2016 and the discovery prompted the Philippines President, Rodrigo Duterte, to order all Filipino expatriates home from Kuwait within 72 hours.
According to the Philippines Department of Labour and Employment, 22,000 distressed Filipinos have been repatriated from Middle East countries since then.
raji@gdn.com.bh
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