A group of Filipino overseas workers allegedly maltreated by their employers in Saudi Arabia have sought the help of ABS-CBN's The Filipino Channel and the Philippine Overseas Labor Office in Riyadh due to abuse and unfair employment practices.

Emmanuel Managbanag showed ABS-CBN's "Balitang Middle East" pictures of how they were arrested by police.

OFW Emmanuel Managbanag shows picture of manager who sought their group's arrest./ABS-CBN Middle East News Bureau

Managbanag is just one of the hundreds of OFWs who filed a case in court against their abusive employers.

Group members said they were not paid salaries for four months. In addition, their driver’s licenses and residence permits were withheld for almost a year.

Their employer also ordered their dormitory's air-conditioning units turned off from 5 a.m. to 5 p.m., forcing them to endure the heat in Riyadh. They also complained about the poor condition of their mess hall.

"Dahil sa naranasan namin dito kaya po kami nandito sa TFC para iparating sa inyo mga hinaing namin at ang sama ng loob namin sa inyo, sa Eastwest!" said Anthony Jimena, who is employed as an electrician and driver.

Jimena said their recruiter, the Eastwest Recruitment Agency, promised them a better job. It was a different story when they landed in Saudi Arabia.

"Yung salary na binibigay galing sa Pilipinas, pagdating dito, binabawasan. 'Yung sa akin lang, dalawang libo binawasan ng dalawang daang riyal," said Jimmy Fernandez, who employed as a hydro-test crew.

"Saka po 'yung panahon na pasukan na hindi kami napa-sweldo, nakiusap po kami sa aming amo na hiram ng pera, mag-cash advance kaya lang po binigyan po kami, may 10 percent po na interest," added Jessie de Guzman, a cook.

Tale of punishment

Another complainant named Arnulfo Manipis said he was physically punished for helping out a colleague.

Manipis said he was scolded and was made to do 200 push-ups for helping clean a back hoe.

He also found out later that the salary of 1,400 riyals which was agreed upon in the Philippines was cut down to 700 in Saudi Arabia.

“Bakit pinayagan nila ang ganitong klaseng proseso ng papel? Hindi ito dumaan ng labor, sabi ng POLO-Riyadh [Philippine Overseas Labor Office] kasi walang tatak ito ng Department of Labor and Employment. Puro lang ito POEA [Philippine Overseas and Employment Ageny]!" another driver, Felix Lempiado, said.

The group decided to travel 165 kilometers from their camp to Riyadh to ask for help in resolving their grievances.

"Pasalamat din po ako doon sa POLO na natutulungan din po kami sa aming pangangailangan, isa sila na tumulong sa amin dito,” said Rogelio Amado.

Amado said the POLO helped them reach the TFC office.

"Yung isang gabi, binigyan nila kami ng tulugan para sa aming mga kasama para makapagpahinga ng maayos," Amado said. Chris Lavina, ABS-CBN Middle East News Bureau