A man was arrested by authorities after he assaulted and tore up the passport of his wife, an overseas Filipino worker (OFW) who was bound to leave for Kuwait on Wednesday, January 10.
The OFW identified as Myren Detaro Onato, 31, sent her husband Jonard Banate, 34, to jail after she sought the help of the Philippine National Police - Aviation Security Unit based at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 1.
In an interview, Onato, a native of Roxas City, Capiz, said that her husband would often abuse her whenever he gets home drunk out of jealousy.
She was bound to leave the country via a Philippine Airlines (PAL) flight when her husband arrived at the NAIA Terminal 1, where he approached and confronted her.
Banato took her cell phone and broke it into pieces. He also tore up Onata’s passport and boarding pass so she could not leave the country.
The OFW said that she was supposed to leave on Wednesday at 1PM, because her employer expected her to return to Kuwait after her Christmas vacation.
Onato was advised to go to the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) to replace her torned passport.
The airline staff also helped her retrieved her lugagges as it was already checked in before the incident happened.
According to the Philippine Passport Act of 1996, Banate could potentially be sentenced to a minimum of six years and a maximum of 15 years in prison, in addition to a fine of at least P60,000, if proven guilty.
