An Overseas Filipino Worker who was employed at a restaurant in Al Ain, United Arab Emirates returned home to the Philippines after stealing some money. What’s even worst was that his co-workers, particularly Filipino workers, were dragged into the incident because they were being asked by their employer to pay for the stolen money.
According to the co-worker of the suspect, “Celso” not his real name, stole money amounting to 9,000 dirhams or P130,000. It was also revealed that the suspect was playing online sabong and he lost a lot of money because of it.
But because Celso already returned to the Philippines, his co-workers who were also Filipinos were the ones suffering from the incident. Their salaries were deducted as payment for the money that Celso had stolen.
According to Andres, one of his co-workers of Celso, their employer threatened to not give them the benefits that they ought to have if they fail to pay for the stolen cash.
Aside from money matters, their employer also lost their trust in OFWs.
“Ngayon parang lagi kaming pinag-iisipan,” says Andres.
According to the operations manager of the restaurant, the co-workers of Celso were also forced to pay for the missing money because they also have mistakes.
If only the co-workers managed to check the key to the backdoor, Celso will not have had the chance to steal the money.
Meanwhile, Andres wants to find Celso and be held responsible for the incident. He cannot accept the deduction from his salary and the possibility of losing the benefits that they worked hard to have.
In a letter sent by Celso, he denied that he stole a total of 9,000 dirhams. He is also planning to return to UAE to file a case.
According to Atty. Kristjan Gargantiel, a volunteer lawyer, a crime that happened outside the country cannot be heard in the Philippine court.
Meanwhile, the Overseas Worker Welfare Administration (OWWA) claims that they don’t have records of ‘Celso’ as well as with the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA).
Source GMA
