House helper sues employer for sexual harassment

MANILA, Philippines — A 43-year-old house helper yesterday filed a complaint for sexual harassment against her employer who allegedly made advances on her.

The maid accused Hamad Hammad Alabdali, a Saudi Arabian on vacation in the country and temporarily staying at a condominium in Ermita, Manila, of embracing her from behind and rubbing himself against her.

She said that Alabdali told her that he was just kidding but she did not find his actions funny, prompting her to report him to the Manila Police District Women’s and Children’s Protection Desk.

In her sworn statement, the maid said the harassment started on May 4, her first day of working for the foreigner.

According to her, he immediately asked her if she wanted to have sex with him. When she told him no, he replied, “Joke only.”

She said in her complaint that the sexual advances continued although he always told her that he was just kidding. At one point, she claimed that he walked around the unit naked and that when she asked him to wear some clothes, he told her that he had no clean underwear.

He also replied that he didn’t see any problem with her seeing him naked because she was a married woman, she added.

The victim said that when she threatened to tell the police and his wife about his sexual advances, he replied, “I will kill you.”

On May 26, the foreigner embraced her from behind and rubbed himself against her. When she fought him off, he told her once more that he was just joking, she narrated in her statement.

Eight days later, she said that the foreigner fired her when he found two of his female visitors inside her room. When she asked him why she was being kicked out, he threatened to drag her out of the condominium unit should she refuse to leave.

A charge of violation of Republic Act No. 7877 or the Anti-Sexual Harassment Act of 1995 will be filed against Alabdali with the city prosecutor’s office, the police said.