PHL consulate in Dubai: Jailed Pinay surprised by rumors of rape

The Philippine Consulate General in Dubai said the Filipina who is currently imprisoned in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) was surprised about rumors that she was maltreated and raped in prison. In a report to the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), the Consulate said the woman was unaware that news reports were circulating in the Philippines about her being maltreated and sexually abused. According to a DFA statement issued on Thursday, the Filipina is jailed in the Al- Muraqqabat prison on charges of immorality or unauthorized liaison with the opposite sex, which is strictly prohibited under local laws. Pinay's family The Filipina told visiting Consulate representatives on Wednesday that she did not tell her mother of any rape while in detention. She also said the last conversation she had with her mother was last week and was unable to speak with her since then. The Filipina also told the Consulate representatives that she was being properly treated by prison authorities. In the presence of Consulate representatives, the Filipina called her sister to ask why rumors have spread about her being raped in prison. The Filipina reassured her sister that she was not being sexually abused while in detention, is being treated properly by prison officials. According to the DFA statement, the Filipina's sister said it was their mother’s decision to approach the media about alleged maltreatment and sexual abuse while in prison. The mother was hoping that by having such an issue highlighted, there will be an early resolution of the case, the DFA said. However, the Filipina told her sister about the embarrassment that she would have to endure because of the false rumors, the DFA said. Consulate representatives informed the sister that it has been closely monitoring the case and exerting all efforts to facilitate the immediate resolution of the Filipina's case. Earlier, the Consulate also stated that it is highly unlikely that the Filipina is being raped in prison because male and female detainees have a separate spaces. The prison is also well-guarded and closely supervised by all-female prison personnel, the DFA said. Pinay's ordeal According to the DFA, in December 2010, the Filipina was raped by an Iranian whom she met at a party and a Pakistani who was posing as a police man. Her money, mobile phone and camera were then taken from her, and she was told that she can recover them at the Al-Murqqabat police station. However, when she arrived at the police station, police authorities took her into custody on charges of immorality or unauthorized liaison with the opposite sex, which is strictly prohibited under local laws. The Filipina sought assistance from a friend who is with the local Criminal Investigation Division police, who assisted in identifying and apprehending the Pakistani suspect. The latter is currently in jail on rape charges, while the Iranian suspect is still being sought by authorities, the DFA said. The DFA has instructed Consulate General officials to extend all assistance, including securing her release and facilitating the arrest and prosecution of the two suspects. – VVP, GMA News