Mother of George Francis, the Gulf Air Baby found in the plane trash bin, told Rep. Lani Mercado that she was raped by her employer and became pregnant while working as a maid in Qatar. Authorities are now looking of the possibilities that she might also be a victim of human trafficking.
Tessa, (not her real name) admits that she is the mother of George Francis, and she abandoned her baby inside a trash bin of Gulf Air plane because she was afraid of what her family would say.
Her employer’s wife forced her to return home, she managed to hide her pregnancy and board a flight. She said she used an abdominal binder to hide her pregnancy. She also told social workers that she gave birth on the plane toilet as the jet was about to land.
Cavite’s 2nd District Rep. Lani Mercado who serves on legislative committees on children and women, visited George Francis’ mother at Manila’s National Bureau of Investigation headquarters to try to help her. Mercado said that Tessa might be having a “post-partum depression,” due to her hard ordeal. She is now very eager to see her baby.
The 30-year-old woman was located by the NBI on Wednesday in Apayao after investigators found out who sat in a seat full of blood on the plane. NBI brought her to a hospital immediately. She is still pale and weak, she cries all the time.
Tessa is married and have two children. Her family was surprised and happy when she came back home for a vacation from Qatar where she worked as an OFW for four years. But, their joy ended after they learned the truth. Her mother wants to have the George Francis and vowed to take care of the baby if her husband won’t accept them. Her sister and husband are heading to Manila to help her.
A DNA test is being conducted to make sure if Tessa is the mother of George Francis. She also has to undergo psychological counseling.
Meanwhile, Gulf Air has received so many messages of support for baby George Francis around the world. The airline said it is “currently in discussions” with Philippine authorities on how it can further help the baby.
should we believe everything that this “tessa” says????? what a sad story…and yes…it all still boils down to poverty. mothers who should have been home rearing their children and taking care of the family. instead, these women troop to the middle east to work as domestics, under very crude circumstances. soooo sad. for sure…politicians will use this issue for media mileage,,, will somebody pls from the corridors of power step up to really help these unfortunate OFW’s…..
yah..its what she is saying is true… i worked in KSA for 4 years and i’ve seen there our domestic helpers were really abused and not being protected by the government. Our embassy is deaf and blind because they are paid..sadly to hear that… but Saudi Riyal talks!!!!! For other girls living in a descent life.. dont blame them… instead, helped them.. dont give them advice… action is better than to blame someones she really doesnt what to happen to her. Is there a girl wants to be raped??? i dont think so… so for those people judging the girl… instead of putting her in jail… better to treat her.. she was traumatized. She went to middle east to work not being fucked….
I couldn’t judge her but how would I believe her?I’m a domestic helper myself here in Qatar and been working for almost ten years in the gulf.All i can say is that illicit relationships are spreading far wide here and everywhere especially in Doha and that includes the domestic helpers.Take this,First she denied admitting the mother of George Francis until the truth came out.Second,now she’s saying that she was abused and raped by her employer.I don’t know if I would buy that.If She’s been lying or not George Francis doesn’t even look like an arabian baby or from a foreigner father.He still a days old.No one can proved she’s been raped.Everything is just based upon her story.Anyway,this issue has gone so far and it affects us domestic helpers here in the middle east.Everyone is affected and discriminated by one’s wrong doing.If this Tessa is not telling the truth behind her pregnancy then she’s just making her situation worst than ever and will also affect her family including her fellow domestic helpers here in the middle east.Still I feel sorry for her and i pity the baby..For Tessa,how could you that to your baby?
many people reacts in different ways.. whatever happened to her is not important to discuss further..a human being, specially a mother , tessa is a mother of two children, who feel exactly the feeling of being a mom.. but it doesn’t mean that she is dare to abandon her own child.. I beleive she in fear, scared for the consequences of her managing to board without telling the truth about her pregnancy..she didn’t decide to abandon the child because of what her family would say.. but she abandon the baby beacause she doesn’t know what to do, how to explain , or she feels guilty of boarding eventhough she knows that she isn’t allowed to. Yeah, she might been raped or worst than that , but not a valid reason to judge her, for me i believe that she tried her best for her child ( managing to board ) to give birth in the Philippines rather than is qatar whom she doesn’t have anyone. Just soo sad that she gave birth unexpectedly ..