Another Boholano Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW) is held in middle east even after their work pact already terminated.

The Overseas Worker's Welfare Assistance Desk (OWWAD) under the Office of Vice-Gov. Julius Caesar Herrera, issued the statement last week.

Lea Paraiso Felias, 32, a nurse of Canjulao, Jagna town, was not allowed to leave Abqaig General Hospital, Abquig, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, said her husband Darwin Cesar Felias, who came over to OWWAD for help.

Also suffering the same ordeal are companion-nurses Gina Magadan, Valencia, Bohol; Shiela Oyao, Cebu City; and Hassana Dumaob, Marawi City.

Their two-year contract has been terminated in November last year. Hospital authorities refuse to sign their "release" because they are awaiting for replacement. The nurses expressed apprehension that they might be charged with "overstaying," which bears a severe punishment under strict Arab laws.

Meanwhile, OWWAD also tried but failed to make contact with authorities in Lebanon and Philippine officials to free Mary Ann Ilanga, 30, married, of Virgen, Anda town. She was reportedly "detained" in Lebanon, a pre-dominantly Arab country.

After she left the country in December last year, she landed a work as a domestic helper at Basima Slaiman, Bank Albaraca, Box 1135, Beirut, Lebanon, according to information relayed to OWWAD.
Her family here was informed that her agency, Lebanon-based Priorities Services "detained" her for failure to pay the firm P60,000. Her failure to settle her obligation to the agency stemmed from her being sick and being not able to work due to thyroid cancer. "Because of her health condition, her employer returned her to her agency," OWWAD learned.

The agency threatened to hand her over to Lebanon authorities and be detained if she cannot settle her liabilities.