VP Binay: Pinay wrongfully detained in Qatar now free

Philippine Vice President Jejomar Binay said on Friday the Filipina who was wrongfully detained in Qatar after her name erroneously appeared in that country's police database of offenders, has been released. Binay, the presidential adviser on overseas Filipinos, said the Filipina, whom he did not name, was detained on September 4 this year because of a glitch in the police database. A computer error caused her name to be included in the police database, showing that she still had a pending absconding case filed against her by a former employer. Through a text message, the Filipina managed to seek help from the office of Binay, who instructed the Philippine Embassy in Qatar to assist her. Embassy officials located the Filipina's former employer, who informed Qatari immigration officials that her case was already settled and that she has been cleared to work for another employer. The Filipina allegedly ran away from her former employer due to alleged sexual harassment and verbal abuse. She filed a lawsuit against her Qatari employer and won. Binay said the absconding case against the Filipina has been deleted from Qatar's police database. Binay added that the National Human Rights Committee of Qatar requested the Ministry of Interior to provide the Filipina with a "No Objection Certificate" (NOC) to help her find another job while waiting for the labor court to decide on her claim for back wages. - VVP, GMA News