BY BOY RYAN B, ZABAL
An overseas Filipino worker
who was hired in Saudi Arabia returned home to the Philippines after spending
time in jail in Dammam. He was deported
on March 14, 2017.
Bernie Zaradulla, 34, from
Alas-as, Madalag, Aklan started working on March 26, 2016 as sandwich maker in
a restaurant in Hafar al Batin. According to Zaradulla, three of them decided
to leave the job on September 5, 2016 after their Arab employer failed to pay
their monthly wages.
"Sa first three months, kaya niya kaming pasahurin dahil may salary
deduction pa. Humina ang kita ng restaurant dahil nag-opened ang isang
restaurant malapit sa amin. Sa ika-apat hanggang ika-anim na buwan, kulang na
ang suweldo niya sa amin," Zaradulla claimed.
The victims said they were
forced to work for more than eight hours a day, with no day off, no payment of
overtime work.
“Hindi ko ikinahihiya at hindi pinagsisihan
ang nangyari sa amin at sa pagtakas namin sa employer. Pag tumagal kami doon
nag trabaho lang kami sa wala. Pag malapit na
ang swelduhan gumagawa siya ng paraan kung ano binibentang sa amin para
ma salary deduction kami,” Zaradulla said.
Citing they were deprived of proper compensation, they sought the assistance of
Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO) in Riyadh, which is a five-hour drive
from Hafar al Batin. The following day, their Arab employer complained of
horrob or run-away case against Zaradulla and his two Filipino workers with
the Saudi police.
"Naghanap muna kami ng part-time jobs para sa aming survival, sa pagkain
at makapagpadala kami ng pera sa pamilya," Zaradulla said.
Last January, the three decided to pursue the case against their Arab employer
with the help of POLO Overseas Workers’
Welfare Administration (OWWA) Riyadh, which ordered the
employment agency of Zaradulla to hold the processing of papers until they will
be paid of their back wages.
An agreement was reached between the employment agency and the OFWs to pay
their two-month salary but to no avail.
Zaradulla said the employer also asked
them for 16,000 riyals to release them, but, they denied owing any money from him.
On February 19, the distressed
victims returned to Hafar al Batin to file a police case against their Arab
employer, but, the local police were there to arrest them. They were brought to
the police station and later, detained at Dammam deportation center.
"Pagdating namin galing sa biyahe, may mga pulis na naghihintay sa amin. Naset-up kami. Sa loob ng kulungan, pinabayaan kami. Naglakas loob kami na gumamit ng cellphone. Ang nagbibigay ng pagkain sa kulungan, nagbebenta siya ng cellphone, kumuha kami sa kanya. Patago naming kinakausap ang pamilya namin at kinauukulan," he said.
"Pagdating namin galing sa biyahe, may mga pulis na naghihintay sa amin. Naset-up kami. Sa loob ng kulungan, pinabayaan kami. Naglakas loob kami na gumamit ng cellphone. Ang nagbibigay ng pagkain sa kulungan, nagbebenta siya ng cellphone, kumuha kami sa kanya. Patago naming kinakausap ang pamilya namin at kinauukulan," he said.
Zaradulla said they were
being held in a deportation centre in Dammam for two weeks, uncertain of his
fate if he could rejoin his family in the Philippines.
Last week, a wife of Zaradulla's co-worker also sought the help of Mr. Ben Tulfo of "Bitag" who also asked the assistance of OWWA on March 10. Two days after, officials of POLO Alkhobar processed the release papers of Zaradulla and his two co-workers. On March 14, at around 10 p.m. the OFWs were deported to the Philippines safely.
“I was brought to jail in hand-cuffed by the police.Dinaan sa likod hanggang sa immigration, pauwi ng Pilipinas," Zaradulla added.
Zaradulla was set to arrive in Aklan on March 18.
Last week, a wife of Zaradulla's co-worker also sought the help of Mr. Ben Tulfo of "Bitag" who also asked the assistance of OWWA on March 10. Two days after, officials of POLO Alkhobar processed the release papers of Zaradulla and his two co-workers. On March 14, at around 10 p.m. the OFWs were deported to the Philippines safely.
“I was brought to jail in hand-cuffed by the police.Dinaan sa likod hanggang sa immigration, pauwi ng Pilipinas," Zaradulla added.
Zaradulla was set to arrive in Aklan on March 18.
The article was originally
published by independent online blog Aklan Forum Journal. The unrestricted use
in print or radio, publication and distribution of articles are allowed
provided the original author and Aklan Forum Journal are credited.
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