KUWAIT CITY, May 16: Officials in the Philippines have called on the Kuwaiti government to investigate the apparent murder of a Filipino domestic worker, who was allegedly beaten to death and sexually abused by her employer.

The victim was identified as Constancia Lago Dayag, 47 a native of Agadanan, Isabela. Dayag, a native of Isabela who was working as a domestic helper in Kuwait, was rushed to the Al-Sabah Hospital on May 14 with contusions and hematoma on her body. A cucumber was also found inserted in her body as per Philippines media.

Dayag was deployed as a household service worker in January 2016 to Kuwait and returned in 2018 as a Balik-Manggagawa on a second contract with her Kuwaiti employer.

Charge d’Affaires Mohd Noordin Pendosina Lomondot said the Embassy has also requested Kuwait’s General Forensics and Evidence Department to expedite the release of the forensic report, which is usually processed within four to six weeks.

Earlier, Labor and Employment Secretary Silvestre Bello III directed the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration and the Philippine Overseas Labor Office in Kuwait to track down the recruitment agencies responsible for Dayag’s deployment.

The Philippines Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III (DOLE) is looking to reimpose a ban on the deployment of household service workers (HSWs) to Kuwait, following the death of another overseas Filipino worker in Kuwait

Meanwhile, Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) administrator, Hans Leo Cacdac, said they are ready to provide financial assistance to Dayag’s family. “We will provide death and burial benefits, as well as livelihood and scholarship support. One of her children is still studying in school,” he said in a text message.

The latest incident of abuse against an OFW came more than a year after relations between the Philippines and Kuwait sunk to its lowest level following the death of Joanna Demafelis whose lifeless body was found inside a freezer at her employer’s apartment. The suspects in the case were the employers of the OFW, who were both arrested.

The ban was eventually lifted after the Philippine and Kuwaiti governments signed a memorandum of understanding, intensifying the welfare protection of Filipino workers, particularly HSWs, in the host country.