The daughter of an overseas Filipino worker (OFW) in Italy has been rescued and is now receiving full government assistance after reports surfaced that she was being abused in Pangasinan.
The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) and the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) acted immediately after the victim’s father sought help during the Bagong Bayani ng Mundo – OFW Serbisyo Caravan and Alagang OWWA Caravan in Milan, Italy.
According to DMW officials, the 20-year-old woman has a mental disability and had been suffering from abuse in her hometown. DMW Assistant Secretaries Jerome A. Alcantara and Venecio Legazpi, together with Regional Office 1 Director Christian Rey Sison, coordinated efforts to locate and rescue her. Their swift action led to the arrest of the suspect, who is now facing criminal charges before the Office of the City Prosecutor in Urdaneta, Pangasinan.
DMW Regional Office 1 has also secured a lawyer to fast-track the case and is exploring the use of a judicial affidavit so the victim would no longer need to testify due to her condition. Financial support was provided through the AKSYON Fund to aid her recovery.
To help rebuild her life, OWWA will grant the young woman a scholarship so she can continue her studies, while the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) will provide psychological treatment and counseling services.
