OFW overstays for 8 years in UAE after being scammed by close friend

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates – A Filipina domestic helper here who applied for amnesty in 2018 after overstaying for two years ended up living underground for six more years after she lost her money to a scammer.

Jaywyn Caleja Agrade, 41, said the suspect, who happened to be her close friend, ran off with her money that was supposed to cover expenses for her papers that would have allowed her to legally remain and work in the UAE.

“Nagtiwala po kasi ako ng sobra. Akala ko po maipo-process nila ang papeles ko. Matalik kong siyang kaibigan po,” said Agrade of Ilocos Norte.

(I trusted her too much. I thought they could process my papers. She was a close friend.) 

2018 amnesty

Agrade, who came to UAE in 2014, had been overstaying since 2016. She took her chances when the UAE government announced an amnesty program in 2018 that took effect in August and was extended until December of that year.

“Sa kasamaang palad, linoko po ako ng kabayan nang mag-apply ako for amnesty. Tinakbo nIya yung cash. Kasabwat nIya isang Filipina at isang ibang lahi. Di ko na nahabol kaya nag-overstay ulit ako ng six years,” said Agrade.

(Unfortunately, a fellow Filipina scammed me when I applied for amnesty in 2018. She took off with the cash. She connived with another Filipina and a person of a different nationality. I couldn’t find them anymore and so I overstayed again for another six years.)

Agrade said she was devastated when she discovered she’d been had. She said she lost AED6,000.

“Nawalan ulit ako ng pag-asa. Sobrang galit ko po sa kanila,” she said. 

(I lost hope again. I hated them so much.)

Agrade still has pictures of Maricel, her close friend who cheated her, and Emma, the accomplice.

Single mom

A single mom of three kids, the eldest being 22 years old, Agrade said she stayed on and lived underground for her children’s sake.  

“Alang-ala ang mga anak ko sa Pinas. Ayoko ring maghirap sila. Ako lang kasi ina-asahan nila,” she said.

(My children had nothing. I didn’t want them to go dirt poor. They were counting on me.)

Agrade recalls how hard it was when she hit rock bottom. “Nagtagal ako ng five months na walang sahod. Two years, hindi ako nakapag-padala nang buwan buwan,” she said. 

(I went without salary for five months. For two years, I was not able to regularly send money.)

Agrade said her children and her ex-husband knew about the situation. She said the kids were staying with him as he provides for them through his own little way. 
“Di po niya sila pinababayaan. Kahit papaano po ay supportado pa rin nya ang mga anak namin,” she said.

(He still fulfills his responsibilities to them. He somehow manages to provide for our children.)

Part-time jobs

Agrade said she survived by taking on part-time jobs as househelp and nanny. She recently applied for this year’s amnesty program, which was announced in August and took effect on Sept. 1 and will run until Oct. 31.  

The amnesty, which waives all fees and penalties, offers two options: go home and come back with a clean slate, or remain in the country provided you are employed.

Her stay having finally been legalized, Agrade now has a steady job as nanny in Abu Dhabi. She said she is grateful to the UAE government for giving people like her another chance.

“Sobrang saya. Hindi ko po maipaliwanag. It’s a gift from God. Nagpapa-salamat ako sa government ng UAE kasi binigyan nila ulit ng pagkakataon yung mga illegal na katulad ko na maging legal ulit,” she said.

(I’m so happy. I can’t explain how I feel. It’s a gift from God. I thank the UAE government because they once again gave illegals like me a chance to become legal residents once again.)

Agrade said she’ll focus on her job and save money so that she’ll have something to start a small business with and when she goes home. —KBK, GMA Integrated News