Road Crash

Pinoy dies, 2 others hurt in Saudi road crash

A Filipino contract worker died while two others were injured following a road accident in Saudi Arabia over the weekend.Rodelio Duenas, 33, from Sta. Ana, Manila, was killed after figuring in the road crash 40 kilometers from the job site in Al-Batha on Saturday. His remains are still at a hospital in Al-Hassa.

The two other Filipino victims, meanwhile, were identified Wilson Teves and Roel Rosaldo. They were taken to a hospital nearby and are now out of danger. As of last report, the two are recuperating at a local hotel.Aside from the Filipinos, an Indian and an Omani also figured in the accident.

The two were not identified.ABS-CBN Middle East News Bureau learned that the three Filipinos are coring engineers of a contracting company assigned at an oil rig in Al-Batha, which is near the Saudi border with the United Arab Emirates.The incident has been reported to the Philippine embassy in Riyadh.
http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/

Super Maid

The news that i will share to everyone today is the talk of the town here among the Filipino community. It is very alarming situation to some of our kabayan especially the Pinay maids.To all my kabayans take care always and be safe.Mabuhay!!!

Pinay maid tortured by Saudi employer, 3 sons

A Filipino maid was repeatedly mauled and raped by her Saudi employer after allegedly stealing jewelry from her boss, ABS-CBN Middle East News Bureau reported Friday. Emily, 32, said she fled to the Philippine Embassy in Riyadh last Wednesday after being tortured by her employer and his three sons.

"Ako daw kumuha ng gold saka pera. Doon sa kasama ko rin. Siya nagbibintang sa akin. Di naman [totoo]. Di ko naman ginawa yon. Di ko alam kung totoo ang mga sinasabi nila, ay milyones daw na pera," she recounted.Emily told ABS-CBN that she was offered two years' salary and a plane ticket back to the Philippines if she returned the missing valuables.

When she failed to produce any, she was brought to the police where she was mauled by her male employer and his three sons. She said she was punched, kicked and repeatedly pushed to the floor where she was beaten with nightsticks and steel tubes. "Sinasaktan, lahat pati ulo ko pinapalo nila ako ng makapal na sapatos... Suntok sa mukha, sa tiyan, pasa dito sa likod, sapatos, suntok, at sa paa tira. Tira dito. Pinapaamin sa akin yung gold," she recounted."Papatayin nila ako. Ayoko na. Buti nga nagawa kong tumakas ngayong araw na ito kasi kagabi binubugbog nila ako," she said.
Her body bears testament to the abuse. Emily's entire back is black, blue and red while her arms, legs and fingers are swollen. She also has a black eye, which she got after being punched repeatedly.

Emily also said she was raped three times by her male employer.Labor Attache David Dicang said the case has been forwarded to Saudi Police by officials of the Philippine Embassy in Riyadh. He said Philippine Ambassador Antonio Villamor is closely monitoring the situation.

More than 100 Filipino domestic helpers have also suffered similar fates in different areas in the Middle East who are now being brought home by the government through the Mass Repatriation Program.

Report from Dindo Amparo, ABS-CBN Middle East News Bureau

Pay hike

I will share this news from http://www.abs-cbnnews.com

Saudi employers flip-flop on pay hike

Wage hike concerns are affecting Filipino workers not just in Metro Manila but in the far Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

An ABS-CBN Middle East News Bureau report said some Saudi employers have already granted a 10 percent increase in the salaries of their workers.

“I am pleased because our company raised our salaries as the prices of basic commodities

increased. The 10 percent increase is still a big help,” said Jun Gatdula, counter staff of an airline company in Al-Khobar.

On the other hand, Rene Icasiano, who has worked as a sales agent for 20 years, also in Al-Khobar, did not get an increase. "This means a great loss in savings for those of us whose salaries were not increased," he said.

He said his family used to spend about SR2,800 (about P28,000) monthly for their basic needs. Now, his family spends SR3,250 monthly because of a 16 percent increase in inflation.

"Generally, life here in Saudi Arabia is getting tougher and tougher because of this recession," he said.

Med Cortez, a restaurateur in Al-Khobar, said the restaurant has been forced to increase prices by a minimum of 20 percent because of corresponding price increases in all commodities. ‘If we did not increase prices, we would go bankrupt,” Cortez said.

Florante Catanus, ABS-CBN Middle East News Bureau