“We received a text message indicating the location of the villa (about 250 km from Riyadh) where Leonora (not her real name) and six other runaway maids are staying,” said an embassy official on the condition he not be named. “The exact location of the villa is not clear.”

The official said the location is about two kilometers from Majmaa, Riyadh province.

The maid, who is divorced and has two children, wants to return to the Philippines but the other maids staying there do not want to be repatriated.

“I have asked permission from Vice Consul Roussel R. Reyes, who is the head of the embassy's Assistance to Nationals Section, that we proceed to Majmaa to pick her up at a certain place in the city, but she said that she won't be allowed by the Pakistani national who looks after them to leave the villa,” the case officer said.

He added that Leonora is also scared to leave the villa and walk toward the city because she does not have an iqama or passport.

“She claims that she's being asked by the six other runaway maids to leave the villa. They are afraid that the embassy would also take them if and when the embassy rescues Leonora. They don't want to go home yet. They want to continue working to earn,” he said.

The case officer added that the Pakistani national should be arrested to stop his illegal activities.  “He's guilty of human trafficking and unless he's arrested he'd continue with his illegal activities,” he said.