OWWA rescues Kuwait OFW as injuries video goes viral

An abused overseas Filipino worker in Kuwait was rescued Saturday after a video of her pleading for help went viral on social media.

In the video posted on Facebook, Bretchie Lyn Magsayo showed several bruises and burns on different parts of her body.

According to a report on GMA 7 news program "24 Oras Weekend", Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) Administrator Hans Leo Cacdac and Deputy Administrator Arnel Ignacio learned of the OFW's situation.

They immediately worked with Kuwaiti labor officials to make sure Magsayo was safe.

Magsayo was rescued and brought to the Philippine Embassy in Kuwait Saturday afternoon.

"Nandito na po ako sa Philippine Embassy ng Kuwait, maayos na po ako dito," said the OFW.

Ignacio said that the rescue had to be carried out cautiously because any Filipino who help the Magasayo escape could have been arrested.

"We have to understand na iba ho ang batas dito. Hindi ho kahit sino ay puwedeng tumakbo at mag-rescue na 'yun ay maaaresto. Kasi, malamang, 'yung magre-rescue na 'yun ay maaresto. Pulis ho ang nagre-rescue dito so we have to coordinate with the authorities," the OWWA official explained.

Ignacio leads the rapid reaction team sent to the Middle East by the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) to assess the situation of Filipino workers following several reports of abuses in Kuwait.

Among these cases was thuat of  Filipino domestic helper Joanna Demafelis, whose body was found stuffed inside a refrigerator in an apartment in Kuwait.

Though a principal suspect and two recruitment officials involved in Demafelis' death had been arrested, the deployment ban on Kuwait for first-time OFWs had yet to be lifted.

Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III and DOLE officials are set to meet with their Kuwaiti counterparts on March 14 to 15 to sign a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on the protection of Filipino workers. — Margaret Claire Layug/DVM, GMA News