The female Filipino domestic helper, who was scalded by her employer, has formally filed charges with the police, the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said Thursday.

The Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) has issued preventive suspension against the Philippine and Saudi recruitment agencies in addition to her employer in Riyadh.

The 23-year-old Fahima Alagasi Palacasi, the overseas Filipino worker, was a victim of maltreatment. Her cousin in Riyadh, Normiah Alagasi, told Arab News on Friday that Fahima’s injuries are healing now and she is much better after visiting Bahay Kalinga.

Her parents also traveled from southern Philippines to Manila to keep track of the case.

According to the DFA spokesman, Fahima was accompanied by Philippine Embassy representatives on May 20 to a police station where she filed her complaint.

“The police have subsequently issued an endorsement to a hospital in Riyadh to conduct a medical examination,” said DFA spokesman Charles Jose.

He said the hospital will issue a medical report for use by the police in its investigation, adding that the case was also brought to the attention of Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs by the Philippine government.

“The Philippine government will give her whatever assistance she may require,” Jose said.
Maria Embry, an activist against human trafficking, also took the case to the Department of Justice Secretary Leila De Lima, urging her to file human trafficking charges against the officers of the government licensing agency. She said the A-M Phil Professional Services that illegally deployed an under-aged maid has a history of human trafficking.

Embry said the same agency also has a record of providing fake birth certificates to under-aged workers and was suspended following its deployment of under-aged workers to Qatar last year. However, it was allowed to retain its license which expired on May 18 this year.

The two workers made joint statements regarding their complaints of falsification of travel documents, misrepresentation, illegal exaction of placement fees and other violations against the A-M Phil Professional Services Corp.

On Thursday, the POEA ordered the suspension of A-M Phil Professional Services Corporation, the Saudi-based Al-Motkasses Recruitment Office for General Services and the employer in Riyadh for violation of the 2002 POEA rules and regulations
governing the recruitment and employment of land-based workers.