Pinay domestic worker survives

Pinay domestic worker survives jump from 3rd floor to escape abuse

Diana Castillo, a 22-year-old Filipina domestic helper from Taal, Batangas survived a jump from the third floor of a building as she tried to escape from the alleged abuses of her employer in Amman, Jordan.

In an interview with GMA News Online on Friday, Diana's mother Evelyn Onal Castillo said her daughter went to Amman on March 31 this year for the sake of her two children.

However, Evelyn alleged that things quickly went from bad to worse for Diana when her employer, a Jordanian man, allegedly maltreated her just two days after she arrived.

Evelyn claimed that her daughter was burned, beaten, and starved.

The mother also alleged that her daughter was given food with spit and was slapped with barbed wire while being detained against her will.

Evelyn said this made Diana decide to escape by forming a makeshift rope out of bedsheets and pillow covers.

However, as she was escaping from a window in late April, Diana's employer allegedly saw what was happening, forcing the Filipina to jump from the third floor of the building.

Evelyn said Diana was in a coma for two weeks and woke up in a bed at a hospital with a fractured left arm and broken legs.

Out of budget?

According to Evelyn, the Philippine Embassy in Jordan first took care of her daughter’s hospital bills but “ran out of budget."

When Diana's “overdue bills” accumulated, the hospital staff allegedly neglected her, not giving her food and medicines.

During that time, Evelyn said her daughter got by with the help of fellow overseas Filipino workers (OFW) who provided food for her.

Two Filipino nurses at the hospital also gave her a mobile phone so that she could contact her family in the Philippines.

Diana first got in touch with her aunt Emelita Onal on May 28. Two days later, Diana got to talk to her mother Evelyn, saying that she wanted to go home to the Philippines to see her children.

“Hindi ako sigurado kung narape din siya kasi hindi niya nababanggit pero pag nakauwi siya dito ay kakausapin namin siya nang maayos [tungkol doon],” said Evelyn.

Seeking help

According to Evelyn, on June 4, she personally went to the office of Batangas Governor Vilma Santos-Recto to ask for help for her daughter.

Evelyn said the governor promised to call the concerned government agencies and ensure that Diana would receive immediate assistance.

After she had approached the governor, Evelyn said the Philippine Embassy in Jordan has been assisting Diana who has racked up a $12,000 hospital bill.

Evelyn is requesting the repatriation of her daughter who is suffering from trauma.

“Hiling ko po sa gobyerno na mapauwi nang madalian ang anak ko,” she said.

Evelyn said last year, Diana was a domestic worker in Dubai in the United Arab Emirates, where she was also allegedly maltreated by her employer but was able to return to the Philippines with the help of a relative.

According to Evelyn, Diana is now in a better condition in the hospital in Jordan. - VVP, GMA News