Raped OFW dies in Saudi

LABOR Secretary Silvestre H. Bello III has condoled with the family of the overseas Filipino worker (OFW) who was allegedly raped by her employer in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Secretary Bello said that Filipina Irma Avila Edloy, 35, passed away Friday. He added that Edloy was rushed to King Salman Hospital in Riyadh because of severe injuries from suspected sexual assault.

She lapsed into a coma soon after arriving at the hospital.

Edloy’s case was brought to the attention of Secretary Bello during his trip to Saudi Arabia to look into the situation of distressed overseas Filipino workers. Bello is leading a delegation of government officials to ensure the repatriation of displaced OFWs.

Bello added that Edloy had implicated her employer in the assault. She reportedly was able to point at her employer as the suspect when he showed up at the hospital.

The said OFW had just arrived in Saudi Arabia in July to work as a household service worker.

Bello had already ordered the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) to provide assistance to Edloy’s family.