2 Filipina trafficking victims become sex slaves in Bahrain

When “Faith” and “Hope” received an offer from a fellow Filipino migrant worker in October 2018 about a job in Bahrain that promised good pay, they gladly accepted.

To their knowledge, they would become workers at a salon in the Middle Eastern country.

Upon their arrival, however, the two were soon forced to become sex slaves and threatened with imprisonment if they refused to work.

“‘Yung araw na ‘yun, naka-sampu akong lalaki. Sampung lalaki na, pakiramdam ko sa sarili ko, ang dumi dumi ko,” Faith said through tears in a Saksi report by JP Soriano on Monday.

Faith and Hope said their employers took their phones and monitored their every move.

They were also made to use illegal drugs but they refused.

“Hindi namin alam na ganun e… Tiniis na lang po namin kasi pag tumatanggi kami, kahit pagka may regla kami, pinipilit pa rin kami,” Hope said.

The Filipinas were trapped in this dire situation for almost two months before finally escaping in December 2018 and returning to the Philippines in February 2019.

The results of the medico-legal examination conducted on the victims showed signs of sexually transmitted disease.

“The claims… allow us to investigate more and lead us to the classification as a victim of trafficking, without them coming to Bahrain for testimony or statement,” said Fahad Alasmi of Bahrain’s Labour Market Regulatory Authority.

The Filipino suspects and one cop in Bahrain have already been detained.

Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Sarah Arriola warned, “This should be a warning to other Filipinos na nag ta-traffic, nag-i-illegal recruit o nagpapahamak ng ibang Pilipino na hindi talaga sila titigilan ng pamahalaan na ito.”

Earlier on Monday, the Kingdom of Bahrain handed over P150,000 worth of assistance to the two victims.

Faith and Hope will also receive P100,000 each from the Department of Foreign Affairs.

The Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking said there are a number of human trafficking cases in the Middle East.

“We’ve identified victims in the United Arab Emirates, in Saudia Arabia, and in Iraq. Mostly these are Middle Eastern countries, so Syria as well as Jordan,” the council’s deputy executive director Atty. Maria Tamayo-Coronel said. — Julia Mari Ornedo/BAP, GMA News