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| Antonio (with glasses) says Bethune House is always ready to help distressed migrans |
If you are accused wrongly, fight.
This is the message that Bethune House executive
director Edwina Antonio said, after the prosecution withdrew a charge of
assault against Filipina domestic worker in their care on May 2, following a hearing at Fan Ling Magistracy.
Filipina Jeany T, 39 along Indonesian Yanti, 24, who both worked for the same employer, were
both arrested by the police on Dec 28 last year for allegedly assaulting their young male ward starting on Nov. 19 of the same year, in their
employer’s flat in Treasure Tower, Sha Tin.
They were eventually charged with one count of common
assault each, which carries a maximum sentence of one year in prison.
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| PINDUTIN PARA SA DETALYE |
Both denied the charge from the outset, but it took four
agonizing months before prosecutors decided there was no evidence to support
the allegation made against them by their former employer.
“Tanda ko nung
dumating si Jeany sa Bethune House iyak siya ng iyak dahil sa bintang na common
assault. Gulong gulo ang isip dahil sa takot,” said Antonio. (I remember how
Jeany cried so hard when she came to Bethune House because of the common
assault charge).
Despite her distress, Jeany was determined to fight
back.
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| Basahin ang detalye! |
“Ang binitawan
niyang salita ay ‘lalaban ako dahil hindi ko ginawa, hindi ko sinaktan ang
batang alaga ko,” added Antonio. (She declared she would fight back because
she did not commit any wrongdoing, she did not assault the young boy in her
care).
According to Jeany, she was dismissed after she saw her female employer hit Yanti, and she called the police. Both helpers were eventually dismissed and the employer turned the tables on them by filing a complaint about their alleged assault on her son.
Seeing her determination to defend herself against
the baseless allegation, Antonio said Bethune House extended her help, not just
with temporary accommodation, but also with mental, legal and emotional
support. Yanti was taken in by her recruitment agency.
“So noong sinabi
niya na gusto niyang tumindig at lumaban sa akusasyon na di niya ginawa,
pinalakas namin siya mentally para makaalpas sa trauma. Mahalaga at importante
na manindigan sa tama,” said Antonio.
(So when she said she wanted to stand for what was
right and defend herself against a charge she did not commit we helped
strengthen her mentally so she could recover from the trauma. It is important and
essential for one to stand up for what is right).
It is also because of
that determination to fight for her rights that Jeany is now set to file a
labour claim against her former employer so she could recover everything that
is due her under the law.
Hopefully, she would
also be allowed to remain in Hong Kong and find a new employer who will be kind
to her and accord her dignity.
