MANILA, 22 November 2003 — A Philippine consul assigned in Israel is under investigation for allegedly maltreating her maid.
Foreign Affairs Secretary Blas F. Ople ordered the investigation earlier this week after the Migrante Sectoral Party alleged that Mendiola “enslaved, starved and beat” Regilyn Duca.
The Migrante Sectoral Party said it had gotten hold of the letter of Lydia del Valle, a human right volunteer, who reported the grave abuses of Consul Mendiola against her maid Regilyn Duca, addressed to
A press statement by Migrante said Duca eventually fled her employer when she could no longer take the alleged maltreatment.
John Monterona, spokesman of the Migrante Sectoral Party, said they learned of Duca’s ordeal from a letter of of Tel Aviv-based human rights volunteer Lydia del Valle to Sigal Rosen, an official of Israel’s Hotline for Foreign Workers.
“According to the report, on an average 20-hour work day, Duca would arise at 4 a.m. from the bare cement floor she sleeps on. Continuously until 12 noon the following day, she labored as an all-around maid and cook. However, it was never to the satisfaction of her employer.” Monterona said in the statement. “In one instance, Duca was beaten until she bled profusely. She was not brought to medical attention. Even at meal time, Duca competed with the family pets for the Mendiola family’s table scraps. Worse yet, when they left on excursions, Duca was left to starve for weeks at a time.
“She was promised a miserable $150.00 monthly salary, but she has never seen a cent of it. Consul Mendiola absurdly claims it is being held to pay for her airfare,” Monterona said.
Yesterday, a press statement of the Department of Foreign Affairs said Secretary Ople had instructed the Philippine Embassy in Tel Aviv to look into the complaint filed by del Valle on behalf of Duca.
“It is essential that we get the facts straight from the primary source, to ensure that both parties are heard and treated fairly and objectively. I have instructed the Philippine Embassy in Tel-Aviv to get in touch and obtain a sworn statement from Ms. Duca concerning her complaint against Consul Mendiola,” the statement quoted Ople as saying.
“Upon receipt of the sworn statement from Ms. Duca, the DFA can proceed with an administrative investigation to be conducted in accordance with prescribed procedures,” Ople added.
Consul Mendiola had written a memorandum addressed to Secretary Ople, denying the allegations against her, said the statement. The DFA has not commented on a charge by Migrante that Mendiola was reassigned to Guam as a result of the case against her.
