Employer of OFW killed by lion charged

MANILA, Philippines—The Philippine government has filed a criminal case against the employer of an overseas Filipino worker (OFW) who was attacked and killed by her employer’s pet lion in Kuwait.

“Consul General Raul Dado has informed me that they already filed a case against the employer and that the Philippine embassy in Kuwait is doing everything to repatriate the body as soon as possible,” Vice President Jejomar Binay, who is also the presidential adviser on OFW concerns, said in a statement.

A criminal complaint of negligence resulting in homicide has been lodged against the employer of Lourdes Hingco Abejuela.

Abujuela, 50, a native of Ozamis City, was doing the laundry on the rooftop of her employer’s house on Dec. 6 when the lion got out of the cage and attacked her. The injuries she sustained from the attack caused her death four days later.

The cage of the pet lion at the time was left unlocked.

“I have asked our embassy and the other agencies of government to work together so we can provide all the help to the family,” Binay added.

Binay said officials of the Philippine embassy in Kuwait has also began an investigation into the alleged reports of negligence at the hospital where Abujuela was admitted for her injuries.

Reports said that Abejuela was brought to a hospital after the incident but was immediately discharged after her employer allegedly lied to doctors, saying that a dog instead of a lion attacked her.

On Dec. 10, she was brought back to the hospital where she died.

Under Kuwaiti law, residents are not allowed to own lions and other wild animals as pets.