MANILA, 28 August 2007 — A Filipino domestic helper allegedly raped by her employer’s sons was rescued by members of the Philippine Consulate General in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, ABS-CBN Middle East News Bureau reported yesterday.
Bureau chief Dindo Amparo said the victim, a 23-year-old native of Davao City identified only as Rosa, was rescued from her employer in Taif. She was then places in the custody of Philippine Consul General Pendosina Lomondot who said she is now under the protective custody of the consulate. Lomondot said the Philippine consulate was informed of the domestic helper’s ordeal by her husband in Davao City to whom Rosa was able to surreptitiously send a letter. She told him about her ordeal in the letter.
Rosa said she was raped by one of her employer’s sons last June 14, 2006. The incident was repeated in November.
“Sinuntok ako, at saka kinunan ako. Tinalian din ‘yung paa ko... Tapos hubad ako (I was punched and I was videoed. My feet were tied),” Rosa told ABS-CBN News.
The victim said that on the second incident, the other sons of her employer gang raped her. She said one of her rapists took footage of the crime through his cellular phone.
Meanwhile, the report said the Philippine Consulate in Jeddah is continuing to search for another Filipina named Melissa, who was similarly allegedly raped by her employer’s son and videotaped on a cell phone.
The rape case was revealed to the authorities through the phone video clip that has been circulating in the Middle East.
Rosa denied that she was the woman in that video.
