Rowena Briones is also urging her former employer, Bienvenida Camacho, to “clear her name.”
Briones, whose complaint was rejected by the Department of Labor, said she was maltreated by Camacho, organizer of the Philippine Benevolent Missionaries Association on Saipan.
But Briones said she has already forgiven Camacho who recruited her last year to supposedly perform missionary work on Saipan.
Camacho denied Briones’ allegations.
She said Briones has been “inactive” as a missionary and have violated their “sacred allegiance” by having affair with a fellow member of their mission.
Briones was one of the four “tourists” Camacho sponsored. Once on island, they were employed at their recruiter’s business establishments, according to former Federal Ombudsman Jim Benedetto.
He referred the case to the Dapartment of Labor, saying that Camacho continues to employ guest workers even though she was already barred from doing so.
Labor Deputy Secretary Cinta Kaipat said their department will not deal with Briones’ case because they do not have any jurisdiction over persons who enter the commonwealth as tourists.
Briones said she just wanted to work so she could earn money for her airfare, adding that her employer didn’t allow her to renew her missionary permit which expired on August.
Camacho said they did not to renew Briones’ missionary permit because she “tainted the good name” of the Philippine Benevolent Missionaries Association, “affecting other missionaries who are diligent and committed to their service.”
But Camacho said they are willing to pay Briones’ plane ticket.
“She never gave herself a chance to recover,” Camacho said. “We gave her an opportunity to change but she left the group.”
She said Briones claimed that she, Camacho, was being “abusive” even though she treated Briones well.
