By Marita Moaje
MANILA – The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) assured the public it is exhausting all legal, diplomatic, and humanitarian avenues to defend the rights of an overseas Filipino worker (OFW) in Kuwait who has been sentenced to death over the demise of her employer’s child.
In a statement released Thursday evening, the DMW said the lawyer handling the case has been exhausting all legal possibilities under Kuwaiti law, including the filing of an appeal on behalf of the OFW.
“Iginagalang natin ang batas ng Kuwait, ngunit malinaw ang mandato ng pamahalaan: ipagtanggol ang karapatan at dignidad ng bawat Pilipino saan man sila naroroon. Hindi namin kayo iiwanan (We respect Kuwaiti law, but the government’s mandate is clear: to defend the rights and dignity of every Filipino wherever they are. We will not abandon you),” the DMW statement read.
“Gumagawa kami ng lahat ng hakbang—legal, diplomatiko, at makatao—para matiyak na makakamtan ng ating kababayan ang patas at makatarungang paglilitis (We are taking all steps—legal, diplomatic, and humanitarian—to ensure that our countrymen receive a fair and just trial),” it added.
In late December 2024, Kuwait’s Criminal Investigation Department arrested a Filipina domestic worker in Sabah Al-Salem after the death of her employer’s 18-month-old child.
The Filipino domestic helper reportedly placed the Kuwaiti child inside a washing machine at her employers’ residence.
The parents rushed to rescue their son upon hearing his screams and brought him to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival.
A report from the Gulf News said that Kuwait’s criminal court on Wednesday sentenced the OFW to death.
“Nakikiramay kami sa pamilyang Kuwaiti sa kanilang pagkawala, at kasabay nito ay nakikiramay kami sa mabigat na pinagdaraanan ng ating manggagawang Pilipino at ng kanyang pamilya (We sympathize with the Kuwaiti family on their loss, and at the same time, we sympathize with the difficult situation our Filipino worker and his family are going through),” the DMW said.
The DMW said the Philippine Embassy in Kuwait continues to monitor the condition of the Filipino worker to ensure that her rights are respected.
It added that the agency has been assisting the family of the OFW, particularly her children.
While acknowledging the gravity of the case, the DMW emphasized that the incident should be regarded as isolated and not reflective of the values of the more than 220,000 OFWs in Kuwait, with the majority employed as domestic helpers.
“Ramdam namin ang lungkot at bigat sa damdamin ng kasong ito. Kami ay humihiling lang po ng pang-unawa at pagtitiwala habang maingat at matatag naming tinutulungan ang ating kababayan na harapin ang kasong ito (We feel the sadness and emotional weight of this case. We simply ask for understanding and trust as we carefully and firmly help our countrymen deal with this case),” the DMW said. (PNA)
