MANILA, Philippines–The Philippine government has filed a criminal negligence case against the employer of a Filipino domestic helper in Kuwait who was killed after being attacked by a pet lion.
“Consul General Raul Dado has informed me that they already filed a case against the employer (for criminal negligence resulting in homicide),” Vice President Jejomar Binay said.
Binay, who is also the Presidential Adviser on Overseas Filipino Workers’ (OFW) Concerns, said the Philippine Embassy in Kuwait is already arranging for the repatriation of Lourdes Hingco Abejuela’s remains.
“I have asked our embassy and the other agencies of government to work together so we can provide all the help to the family,” he added.
Reports said the employer’s pet lion attacked Abejuela, who was doing the laundry on the rooftop, after its cage was left unlocked.
She was brought to the hospital but was later released after her employer supposedly lied that a dog attacked her.
She died on December 10.
The Vice President said the Philippine Embassy in Kuwait is still investigating reports of negligence on the part of the employer. The employer was not named though it was revealed that Abejuela had been working for him for 15 years.
Kuwaiti law forbids residents to take lions and other wild animals as pets.
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