Report: 5 Cebuanas escape from GRO work in Malaysia

At least five Filipino women from Cebu are now hiding in Miri City in Sabah after escaping from their employer, whom they said forced them to work in a nightclub there. Sun-Star newspaper (sunstar.com.ph) said the five -- identified as Grace Gabatu, Michelle Redelusa, Cheryl Trucio, Rona Adrian Bless Pangga and Precious Adel Hermias -- all hail from Cebu City. Josephus Jimenez, Philippine labor attaché to Malaysia, had reportedly assured the girls’ aunt he would "do his best" to help the girls. He also promised to send a representative to arrange for the fares and documents of the women to bring them back to the country. The five told a local affiliate of Radio GMA (RGMA) that a Filipino has taken them in while their Malaysian employer sought help from Malaysian authorities to track them down. Miri City is located in Sabah, and is a three-hour flight away from Kuala Lumpur. Nelia Hermias, Precious’ aunt, sought assistant from RGMA broadcaster Roberto Nalzaro, who writes a column for Sun-Star, and told him of the girls’ plight. She said one Roselyn Entrera recruited the girls in Cebu City and promised them work as singers in Malaysia. They left Cebu last month and took a flight to Kota Kinabalu, then to Miri. But when they reached Miri, they were allegedly forced to work as guest relations officers instead of singers. One of the girls said they were not paid if they did not drink with the male customers. The girls eventually escaped.-GMANews.TV