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MANILA, Philippines – Thirty Filipino workers expelled from Saudi Arabia returned home Monday (November 4th) and alleged they were abused amid a Saudi crackdown on illegal migrants, AFP reported.
![Filipina domestic helper Amor Roxas (centre) weeps upon arriving at Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Manila on Monday (November 4th) after being expelled from Saudi Arabia. Thirty Filipinos, deported from the kingdom after an amnesty for illegal workers expired, alleged abuses by Saudi immigration officials. [Jay Directo/AFP]](/shared/images/2013/11/05/131105-POTD_KSEA_SAUDIWORKERS_PP-310_207.jpg)
Filipina domestic helper Amor Roxas (centre) weeps upon arriving at Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Manila on Monday (November 4th) after being expelled from Saudi Arabia. Thirty Filipinos, deported from the kingdom after an amnesty for illegal workers expired, alleged abuses by Saudi immigration officials. [Jay Directo/AFP]
They were among an estimated 6,700 Filipino workers stranded in parts of the kingdom where an amnesty for undocumented foreigners ended over the weekend.
"They treated us like animals," said domestic helper Amor Roxas.
She claimed Saudi police rounded them up and placed them in a crowded cell for four days before they were taken from the immigration centre to the airport. "Our feet were chained," added Yvonne Montefeo.
Saudi Arabian embassy officials in Manila did not comment on the allegations.
Migrante International, a support group for Filipino overseas workers, said 1,700 other workers remained stranded in Jeddah waiting for their documents to be processed so they can return home. About 5,000 more were scattered in Riyadh, Al Khobar, Dammam and needing consular assistance.
The group warned Filipinos "are in danger of being violently dispersed, arrested and detained by Saudi authorities" as the kingdom implements its crackdown.
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