Pinay DH  in Najran traveling to Riyadh after rescue—Consulate 

The relatives of Mary Grace Abuyan Battung, 32-year-old domestic helper (DH) in Sharurah, Najran region in Saudi Arabia, have been worried about her whereabouts. 

Now, they could heave a sigh of relief. On Tuesday night, Consul General Edgar Tomas “Gary” Q. Auxilian of the Philippine Consulate in Jeddah said Battung had been rescued and was on the way from Najran to Riyadh where her agency, Abdullah Al Musharef for Recruitment, is based. 

“I already made a follow-up on this matter with our colleagues at the Philippine Embassy in Riyadh and they promised to check on it,” said the Antique-born Auxilian. 

Auxilian, formerly posted in Nairobi, Kenya, said the Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO Jeddah) under Labor Attaché Roel B. Martin was following up the case with POLO Riyadh. 

He forwarded the information to retired foreign service officer Rafael E. Seguis who in turn sent it to me. Seguis was the former Philippine ambassador to Saudi Arabia before being cross-posted to Indonesia. He capped his career by being Foreign Undersecretary for Civilian  Security and Consular Concerns and is now with the Center for Humanitarian Dialogue. But he still helps distressed overseas Filipino workers. 

Rhea Domingo Calixto, an overseas Filipino worker in Singapore, sent a text message asking for assistance to rescue Battung from her employer whose wife, Fawzia Bint Naser Al Mahrwe, allegedly caused the domestic worker physical injury and emotional pain by slapping her twice  on the face, hitting her in the breast and inflicting bruises when the employer was displeased.  

Battung also complained of delayed salaries and claimed she was prevented from communicating with her family. She complained of fatigue because she was not only an all-around housemaid but also had to look after five children. 

On May 31, Arrah Geid Lumboy, another relative of Battung in Baggao town, Cagayan Valley, sent a text message – actually a letter – addressed to Director General of Police  Abdullah Musharref asking for help to settle the case or rescue the worker from her employer. 

The letter,  given by the agency to Battung who sent it to relatives, came from the Director of Labor Office, signed by Saud bin Shenandoah Al Shalawi. 

 On Thursday last week, Battung was believed to have been rescued but nothing more was heard from her. 

 When her relatives contacted her, their calls went unanswered. 

 The employer was also not taking calls.