KUWAIT CITY, May 21: The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) in coordination with the Philippines Embassy in Kuwait has filed a criminal case against Kuwait for the death of an overseas Filipino worker (OFW) identified as Constancia Lago Dayag, reports Al-Qabas daily quoting Manila Bulletin.

“The DFA, through the Philippine Embassy in Kuwait, has hired a lawyer, who has already filed a criminal case. The Department will continue to provide legal and other assistance to the next-of-kin of the late OFW Dayag,” DFA said in a statement, without specifying who the respondents are in the case.

DFA said Embassy Charge d’Affaires Mohd. Noordin Pendosina N. Lomondot has met with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Kuwait for the forensic report on Dayag’s death. Dayag was reportedly rushed to the Al Sabah Hospital on May 14 but was declared dead on arrival.

Her body bore various contusions and hematoma, said Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) secretary Silvestre Bello III. The labor chief said he is “taking the Kuwaiti government to task for the gruesome death of yet another Filipino worker in the hands of her employer in Kuwait,” and asked the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration “to go after the foreign and local agencies” that deployed the Filipina to Kuwait. DFA said they will shoulder the repatriation of Dayag’s remains to her hometown in Cauayan, Isabela. But it has yet to set a date for the repatriation.