We had a conversation with Nelson Balagat of Saranggani City over Radio Inquirer 990 AM recently. He appealed for an investigation into the tragic death of his wife, Love Joy Pineda Balagat, who was reported to have jumped from the 12th floor of the building where she was working last Sept. 27.
Love Joy went to work as a household service worker in Kuwait last April 23. She had only been working overseas for five months when Nelson received the devastating news of his wife’s death.
At the moment, Love Joy’s remains are still in Kuwait.
During her first two months at work, she seemed to enjoy good working relations with her ‘madam’ in Kuwait, said Nelson. The employer, who is an Egyptian, even brought the OFW to Egypt when she went there for a vacation. But when they came back to Kuwait, she witnessed a sudden change in the employer’s moods, which worsened to cruelty and physical abuse, Love Joy had told her husband.
His wife said it seemed as if her employer was losing her mind.
Eventually, when Love Joy tried to leave, her employer flew into a rage. The madam said she had spent a lot of money to hire the OFW therefore she could not understand why Love Joy should be allowed to go home. That was the last story Nelson heard from his wife.
Nelson went to the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) to report the incident and to request the immediate repatriation of his wife’s remains.
This case is considered closed by Jamaica International Placement Services, Love Joy’s recruitment agency, because according to them, she committed suicide.
However, the Kuwaiti police postponed the repatriation of her remains while they investigate what exactly happened—if the OFW really did jump, accidentally fell or was deliberately pushed.
We called up the Philippine Embassy in Kuwait. Our officials there are also awaiting the results of the the Kuwait investigation.
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Susan Andes a.k.a Susan K. can be heard in Radyo Inquirer dzIQ 990 AM,Monday – Friday, 10:30 am-12:00 noon, audio/video live streaming: www.dziq.am.Helplines: 0927-6499870 / 0920-9684700 E-mail: bantayocwfoundation@yahoo.com/ susankbantayocw@yahoo.com