A FILIPINO household worker was allegedly beaten to death by her employer in Kuwait, Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III said and ordered labor attachés to conduct an immediate investigation on the incident and to assist the victim.
The OFW, identified as Amy Capulong Santiago, succumbed to injuries caused by beatings by her employer. She was brought to the Farwaniya Hospital but later died.
“I am truly disheartened that such tragedies happen. I assure the family of Santiago that we will provide all the necessary assistance they need,” Bello said in a statement.
The Philippine Embassy and the Philippine Overseas Labor Office in Kuwait will provide legal assistance to the family of Santiago in Concepcion, Tarlac to obtain justice for her death.
Bello also directed the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration to ensure the necessary assistance will be extended to her family, including the provision of benefits due their departed kin.
Santiago’s family may receive benefit in the amount of P200,000 in death insurance and the burial assistance of P20,000.
The victim’s dependents will also be provided with educational benefits and livelihood assistance. He also said the next of kin were already notified that repatriation expenses would be shouldered by OWWA.
According to reports from Assistance to Nationals Unit of the Philippine Embassy in Kuwait, records of the Abdullah Al Mubarak Police Directorate General of Criminal Evidence showed old and fresh bruises on various parts of Santiago’s body, mostly on her back.
The remains of the victim were referred to the Forensic Department on Jan 26 for further investigation to ascertain the cause of her death.
Kuwait police arrested the male employer while his wife surrendered at the Abdullah Al Mubarak Police station who were now detained and under investigation to determine whether there was foul play or not on the death of Santiago.