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| Jelyn Olivar, the 'runaway' maid |
By Vir B. Lumicao
A Filipina maid reported missing for three days had
reportedly sent an online message to a friend just before 1am this morning,
Oct. 18, saying she was ok, and asked that the search for her be stopped.
Jelyn J. Olivar did not say where she was, but said she was
in some "big place".
“I’m fine don’t worry wag kaung gumawa ng anong hakbang na
lalong magpagulo sa aking sitwasyon... ang mahalaga buhay ako,” said the
message reportedly sent by Olivar to her friend.
“Hayaan nio na maging missing in action ako dito sa HK…wag
nio na palawakin pa ang paghahanap sa akin…safe ako at maayos ang kinalalagyan
ko.”
Her apparent flight prompted a warning from Labor Attache
Jalilo dela Torre that Filipino helpers
should not abandon their wards, particularly children and old people.
He said that in such a situation, their employers could
explore Hong Kong ’s law that penalizes neglect
of a ward by those assigned to take care of them.
Olivar’s disappearance on Oct 15 sparked widespread concern
about her safety. She had reportedly left her employers in Marina Cove, Sai
Kung before noon that day, supposedly to meet with friends in a church despite
the stormy weather, but never did.
Many of her friends went online to ask for help in locating
her, and were even joined by her husband who professed not knowing about her
plans.
It was not known what had prompted the flight of Olivar, a
32-year-old mother of three and former OFW in Saudi
Arabia , who had been with her Hong
Kong employers for just five months.
Labatt Dela Torre, who was informed of Olivar’s
disappearance on Oct 17, said he received word today that the Filipina had
crossed over to China .
In this case, he said the employers can have Olivar
watch-listed. And if that happens, he said the absconding maid would not likely
be allowed to work in Hong Kong again.
“If they have plans
of going to other countries for employment purposes, they should be honest with
their employers and also consult with the Consulate," Labatt dela Torre said. "Kasi kung may mga countries silang
pupuntahan na wala namang kasiguraduhan, lalo lang silang (mapapahamak)."
Danny Baldon of the assistance to nationals section of the
Consulate echoed the view that runaway helpers would find it difficult to work
again in Hong Kong .
Worse, they could be detained on re-entry if their employers
lodged criminal charges against them.
This is not the first time that a Filipina helper had run
away from her employer, but the Philippine Overseas Labor Office has reportedly
not compiled statistics.
“That’s tough to count because employers rarely report these
incidents except when, aside from abandoning, the worker also committed other
grave offenses like stealing, abandoning and endangering their wards,” Labatt
Dela Torre said.
In many of the cases, the Filipina helper would decide to
stay put in the Philippines
while supposedly only on vacation.
