TINIYAK ng Blas F. Ople Policy Center na makakukuha ng tulong sa usaping legal at kabuhayan ang kasambahay na minaltrato ni Philippine Ambassador to Brazil Marichu Mauro.

Sa pahayag, sinabi ni Susan Ople, dating labor undersecretary at ngayon ay UN Board of Trustee member na palaging personal na desisyon ng minaltrato o inabusong overseas Filipino worker (OFW) na isulong ang kasong administratibo at kriminal laban sa kanyang employer.

“We just want her to know that our organization is willing to help her get through this, legally and even financially, because we know how difficult it is to be caught in a situation wherein you need to defend yourself against a person of authority, which in this case is no less than a Philippine ambassador,” ayon kay Ople.

Nauna nang tinulungan ng Ople Center ang isang kasambahay sa Kuwait na dumanas ng sexual harassment sa kamay ng dating embahador.

“Under the previous administration, that administrative case dragged on for more than two years. We hope and pray that this does not happen under the Duterte Administration considering how vocal Foreign Affairs Secretary Locsin is when it comes to migrant workers’ rights,” ayon kay Ople.

Sinabi ni Ople, na itinalaga kamakailan bilang miyembro ng Board of Trustees ng UN Trust Fund to Help Victims of Human Trafficking, na magiging mahirap para kay Mauro na pasinungalingan ang pangyayari dahil nailathala ito sa sa Brazilian network na ginamit naman ng mga international news organization dahilan para mag-viral sa buong mundo ang CCTV footage ng pananakit.

“The question remains: had that video not come out in the news, how much longer would the domestic worker have suffered? And in the middle of a global pandemic where the entire department has been working tirelessly and at great risk to their lives to repatriate thousands of OFWs, how could the ambassador even think of harming her own staff? The ambassador should remember that she represents the Philippine flag, and that flag is well known throughout the world for being the voice of foreign domestic workers,” ayon sa pahayag ng Ople Center.

Sinabi ng Sentro na maaring kontakin ng kasambahay ni Ambassador Mauro ang mobile number 09618114288 at hanapin ang case handler na si Jenny Sespene o mag-private message kay Miss Ople via Facebook: www.facebook.com/susan.ople.

Isang non-profit organization ang Ople Center na nagbibigay ng tulong sa mga OFW na naging biktima ng pagsasamantala at human trafficking na pinamumunuan ni Ople. (ESTONG REYES)