Posted by Macjenny Navarra on Friday, February 19, 2016

MANILA – The photo of a Filipino overseas worker beaten black and blue by his employer in Saudi Arabia has gone viral on social media.

The photo of Mensias Hernandez' has been shared over 65,000 times on Facebook two days after it was posted online.

"Wala naman po akong kasalanan, basta na lang po nanuntok na lang siya nang walang tigil hanggang sa babagsak po ako, nang makaiwas na po ako pumunta po ako sa kababayan na maaring tumulong sa akin," Hernandez said.

The 58-year old La Union native worked as a latero (car tinsmith) in Ha'il, Saudi Arabia.

Two weeks before the incident, their employer also beat up another Filipino, Joy del Monte, who manages the car workshop.

"Kasi 'yong amo naming pulis din dito sa Ha'il, malaking pamilya sir, walang nagtatangkang manghimasok, lumaban sa kanya," said del Monte.

At the police station, Hernandez filed a case against his employer who was jailed for one day.

With the help of Riyadh-based advocacy group Patnubay and other Filipino volunteers in Ha'il, Hernandez and del Monte were also able to file a case against their employer before the Saudi labor office.

Ten of their Filipino colleagues at three other workshops owned by their employer joined the two and no longer want to work there.

Patnubay made sure that an agreement is made for the settlement of the workers' wages, release of their passports with exit visas, and plane tickets.

The agreement was signed by the workers, the labor office and the employer. - Report from Roland Blanco, ABS-CBN Middle East News Bureau