The body of a Filipino domestic worker who was reported missing two months ago, has been found in a state of advanced decomposition inside the home of Kuwaiti nationals, confirmed the Department of Foreign Affairs’ Office of Migrant Affairs on Tuesday.
The Office of Migrant Affairs received information from the Philippine Embassy that the victim’s corpse was discovered after a brother of the suspect reported the incident to the police.
Eduardo De Vega, DFA’s Undersecretary of Migrant Affairs, said: “The suspect’s brother told the police, who then conducted an inquiry, and they found the corpse in a state of advanced decomposition after being dead for almost two months.”
Initial reports indicated that despite the victim being missing for over two months, no family member in the Philippines had reported it.
The OMA said: “Wala raw, nagreport, mula for the family members of the victim in the Philippines, nawawala the victim, even though they may have reported that the victim had gone missing. It seems the victim has been killed two months ago, and the suspect has hidden it.
In a separate DMW report, the victim who had travelled to Kuwait as a household worker in December 2019 was last reported missing in October 2024 by her second employer.
“She left her employer and there was another employer. It was the second one who reported the absconding on October 16,” DMW secretary Hans Cacdac stated.
Authorities uncovered the crime scene several days after the report–approximately three to five days prior to the discovery–though details surrounding the exact circumstances of her death remain unclear.
It is unclear at this time if the victim was working for her new employer, or if there was a relationship between the victim and suspect.
The DFA is yet to reveal the identity of victim. The suspect was arrested and is currently facing charges in Kuwaiti law.
The Kuwaiti government also stated that it is committed to ensuring justice for the victim.
In the near future, the DFA and DMW will be in contact with local officials to discuss the case.
“Our lawyer has already coordinated with the Kuwaiti prosecutorial authorities and law enforcement officials about the investigations that are underway there. We are waiting for the results and any eventual prosecutorial action here because the perpetrator was identified and, as I mentioned, a relative of the perpetrator, who may have concealed the crime, is being questioned,” Cacdac stated.
The suspect has a criminal history in Kuwait.
De Vega said: “We assure the people that the government will do everything it can to seek justice. Malungkot na nangyari ng taon – This is a sad occurrence as we close out the year.”
In the past few years, there have also been several incidents involving Filipino deaths in Kuwait. These include the cases of Jullebee Raara whose body was found burned in the desert in 2023, Joanna Demafelis who was murdered and stuffed into a freezer by employers in 2018, Constancia Dayag who died in May 2019 at the hands her employer;
Jeanelyn villavende was murdered by her female boss in December 2019 due to jealousy.
These incidents led to a ban on new hires for Kuwait. After several years of negotiation, the ban was removed. This allowed Filipinos to return to Kuwait.
The OMA stated that due to the recent case, various agencies including the Department of Migrant Workers and the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration are expected meet soon.
The DFA stated that the case is not related to the Filipina who was allegedly involved with the death of an infant Kuwaiti, who had been found stuffed inside a washing machine.
The DFA assured the public, despite the incidents, that the bilateral relationship between the Philippines and Kuwait would not be affected
Source GMA News
