OFW beaten to death in Kuwait

OFW beaten to death in Kuwait (Photo: xiquinhosilva/Flickr)

MANILA—Another Filipino household service worker (HSW) died after she was allegedly beaten to death by her employer in Kuwait, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) reported on Tuesday.

Amy Capulong Santiago, 33, succumbed to suspected beatings when brought to the Farwaniya Hospital at around 10 p.m. on January 25.

With this, Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III has ordered the labor attaché in Kuwait to closely monitor the OFW’s case.

“I am truly disheartened that such tragedies happen. I assure the family of Santiago that we will provide all the necessary assistance they need,” he said in a statement.

The Philippine Embassy and the Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO) in Kuwait will be providing legal assistance to the family of Santiago in Concepcion, Tarlac to obtain justice for her death.

Aside from legal assistance, the DOLE through the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) has assured that necessary financial assistance will be extended to family of the OFW, including the provision of benefits due their departed kin.

Among the possible benefits due to the family of Santiago are PHP200,000.00 death insurance and the burial assistance of PHP20,000.00.

Likewise, the dependents of the OFW will be provided with educational benefits and livelihood assistance.

The repatriation expenses will be shouldered by OWWA.

The Assistance to Nationals Unit (ATNU) of the Philippine Embassy in Kuwait reported that based on the 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, a day after she died for further investigation to ascertain the cause of her death.

Meanwhile, police authorities arrested Santiago’s male employer while his wife surrendered at the Abdullah Al Mubarak Police station.

They are now detained and under investigation to determine whether or not there was a foul play behind Santiago’s death.

Last week, Kuwaiti authorities executed OFW Jakatia Pawa for killing her employer’s 22-year old daughter.