NBI re-autopsy on remains of Kuwait OFW out within the week – Bello

MANILA, Philippines — Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III on Wednesday said results of a second autopsy conducted on the remains of a Filipino household worker in Kuwait may be released within the week.

Ma. Constancia Dayag, 47, was reportedly black and blue and with a “cucumber” inside her private part when she was rushed at Al Sabah Hospital last May 14 but was declared dead on arrival.

READ: OFW dies in Kuwait; ‘cucumber’ found inside her private part – DOLE 

Speaking with reporters on the sidelines of the Migrant Workers’ Day celebration, Bello said that should the autopsy conducted by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) show foul play, a deployment ban in Kuwait may be re-imposed.

READ: Philippines mulls new ban on Kuwait deployment 

“Hindi ko sinasabi na (Constancia) Dayag is a victim of maltreatment kasi we are still awaiting the result of the autopsy report that is being conducted by our NBI. Mayroong autopsy report ang Kuwaiti government pero I cannot rely on that, we have to rely on the autopsy,” he said. “Anytime this week lalabas na ‘yan.”

“Kung merong foul play at hindi gumawa ng tamang aksyon ang Kuawiti government that could be a possible option, Pero mukha namang they are trying to recoup in their initial inaction,” he added.

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) earlier said a lawyer hired by the Philippine Embassy in Kuwait “has already filed a case” in connection with Dayag’s case.

However, the DFA did not say what was the nature of the case filed.

In 2018, the Philippines repatriated over 5,000 maltreated Filipino workers and issued a deployment ban on Kuwait after missing household helper Joanna Demafelis was found inside a freezer at the abandoned apartment of her employers.

The two countries have since signed an agreement to protect overseas Filipino workers in Kuwait.   (Editor: Mike U. Frialde)