Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac has pledged the government’s full backing for the family of a Filipina domestic worker in Kuwait who was sentenced to death over the death of her employer’s child.
Speaking at the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) head office in Mandaluyong City on Wednesday, Cacdac stressed that the welfare of the OFW’s two young children must remain a priority.
“I met them, they were here in my office, and of course, they really need the support. Sabi ko nga kanina, hindi dapat maapektuhan yung bata sa kung ano man kinasapitan ng ginawa ng OFWs abroad,” he said. He emphasized that children are the main reason parents work overseas and vowed continuous assistance to protect their future.
The DMW chief confirmed that the department will provide livelihood assistance to the family, along with educational support to ensure the children, both under 10 years old, can continue schooling.
The case stems from a December 2024 incident in Sabah Al-Salem, Kuwait, where the Filipina worker was arrested after her employer’s 18-month-old child was found inside a washing machine. The boy was rushed to the hospital but was declared dead on arrival. Last week, Kuwait’s criminal court handed down the death penalty against the OFW, according to a Gulf News report.
Cacdac said the DMW has already directed its legal counsel in Kuwait to file an appeal and is closely monitoring the OFW’s condition in detention. He also conveyed condolences to the bereaved Kuwaiti family while underscoring that the tragedy should be seen as an isolated case, not representative of the over 220,000 Filipinos working in Kuwait, most of them domestic helpers.
