Filipino DH killed as suicide jumper lands on her—OWWA

TACLOBAN CITY, Philippines—It was a case of being in the wrong place at the wrong time.

A Filipina domestic helper died in Hong Kong after a Chinese woman, who jumped from the rooftop of a building in an apparent suicide attempt, fell on her, according to a report received by the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration Office in Eastern Visayas (OWWA-8) from the agency’s office in Hong Kong.

The report said Lourdes Rabi, 49, was just passing by a building in Tai Koo Shing, Hong Kong about 10 a.m. on April 4 when an apparently distraught Chinese woman jumped from the rooftop.

But the Chinese woman, identified only as Yee, landed on top of Rabi, a native of Hilongos town, Leyte and who had been working as a domestic helper in the former British colony for 10 years.

Rabi was reportedly rushed to the Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital where she died a few hours later due to severe head injuries, according to the OWWA-8 report.

It was not yet clear what happened to the Chinese woman.

Rabi’s remains now lie at the Victoria Mortuary in Kennedy town, Hong Kong. She was said to have lived at Flat 6/F Hsia Kung Mansion, 24 Tai Koo Shing Road.

Alberto Peñaflor, OWWA-8 administrative officer, said the report from OWWA office in Hong Kong described Yee, 55, as “emotionally distressed” following an argument with her boyfriend the night before she jumped from the roof of the building.

He said no other details were provided on Yee and Rabi. The report didn’t also indicate why Rabi was in Tai Koo Shing that day.

Peñaflor, however, assured that the OWWA would provide all the necessary assistance to Rabi and her family.

He added that Rabi’s family would receive P200,000 in financial assistance, on top of the P20,000 in burial assistance.

Rabi’s remains were expected to be repatriated after the processing of the needed documents, said Peñaflor.