The decomposing body of a Filipino domestic worker, who had been missing for nearly two months, was discovered in the home of a Kuwaiti national, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Office of Migrant Affairs confirmed on Tuesday.
The grim discovery was made after the suspect’s sibling reported the incident to the police. “Yung kapatid mismo ng suspect sinabihan ‘yung pulis, in-investigate nung pulis nakita ng pulis sa bahay ‘yung bangkay in an advanced state of decomposition magda-dalawang buwan na,” DFA Undersecretary for Migrant Affairs Eduardo De Vega said in a GMA News report.
The Philippine Embassy in Kuwait reported that the victim’s family in the Philippines had not filed a missing person report, despite the extended period of her disappearance. “Wala raw nagreport mula sa mga kaanak sa Pilipinas na nawawala ang biktima kahit lumalabas na may dalawang buwan na siyang pinatay at itinago umano ng suspect sa kanyang bahay,” the DFA said.
Authorities in Kuwait have arrested the suspect, who has a known criminal record, and filed charges under Kuwaiti law. The Kuwaiti government has assured Philippine officials of its commitment to pursue justice for the victim.
“We assure the public that the government will do what it can to seek justice; malungkot na nangyari ito katapusan ng taon,” De Vega added.
This case is the latest in a series of high-profile incidents involving the deaths of Filipino workers in Kuwait, including the cases of Jullebee Ranara in 2023, Joanna Demafelis in 2018, and Jeanelyn Villavende in 2019. These tragedies have previously prompted the Philippines to impose a temporary deployment ban to Kuwait, which was later lifted following negotiations.
The DFA, along with the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) and the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), is set to discuss measures to prevent such incidents in the future.
While the case has drawn significant attention, the DFA clarified that it is unrelated to a recent report involving a Filipina allegedly connected to the death of a Kuwaiti infant found inside a washing machine.
Despite the repeated incidents, the DFA emphasized that bilateral relations between the Philippines and Kuwait remain unaffected.
