Lawmakers seek probe on OFW death in Kuwait

Metro Manila, Philippines - An inquiry on the supposed suspicious death of an overseas Filipino worker (OFW) in Kuwait has been sought at the House of Representatives.

Cagayan de Oro City Rep. Rufus Rodriguez filed House Resolution 2151 to investigate the death of his district congressional constituent, Dafnie Nacalaban.

“It was reported that the suspect in her killing was said to have also killed his Filipina girlfriend a few months earlier,” Rodriguez said in a statement on Tuesday, Jan. 7.

“We urge the Kuwaiti government to conduct an exhaustive and impartial investigation of the death of Dafnie Nacalaban, and to offer better employment terms for our OFWs,” he added.

Nacalaban, a household service worker since 2019 in Kuwait, planned to come home in December. She, however, was reported missing in October. After three months, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) reported that her body was discovered buried in her employer’s house.

Rodriguez said the incident is “not isolated” amid more reports of OFW abuse, maltreatment, and death.

OFW Rep. Marissa Magsino is also pushing for an inquiry on the issue.

The lawmaker also called on the DFA and the Department of Migrant Workers to strengthen the protection of workers abroad.

“Lubos kong ikinalulungkot at kinokondena ang malagim na pagkamatay ng isang kababayan natin sa Kuwait, na nagdulot ng galit at pangungulila sa ating mga kababayan, partikular sa Cagayan de Oro,” Magsino said in a separate statement.

[Translation: I am deeply saddened and I condemn the tragic death of our fellow Filipino in Kuwait, which brought anger and longing to Filipinos, particularly in Cagayan de Oro.]

“Ang insidenteng ito ay muling nagpapakita ng mga panganib na kinakaharap ng ating mga manggagawa sa ibang bansa, lalo na sa mga lugar kung saan hindi sapat ang proteksyon para sa kanilang kaligtasan at karapatan,” she said.

[Translation: This incident shows again the dangers that our workers face abroad, especially in places wherein protection for their safety and rights is lacking.]