Philippine demands justice for slain OFW in Kuwait

MANILA, Philippines — Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. is demanding justice for Jeanelyn Villavende, a Filipino household worker in Kuwait killed by her employer’s wife, citing “an eye for an eye, a life for a life.”

“She bashed her head. So I want the head of the employer’s wife who murdered their Filipina maid,” Locsin tweeted on Tuesday.

Locsin summoned Kuwaiti Ambassador Musaed Saleh Ahmad Althwaikh to the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Tuesday to convey the Philippine government’s outrage over the death of the Filipino domestic worker in the hands of her employer’s wife.

“The friendship between your country which gives our people the jobs they cannot find at home and our people whose faithful service makes the life of your people easier depends on justice being done the murdered maid,” Locsin was quoted as telling the ambassador.

“An eye for an eye, a life for a life,” he added.

The DFA summoned the ambassador to protest “the seeming lack of protection of our domestic workers at the hands of their employers” and called for “complete transparency” in the investigation of the case and the “swift prosecution of the perpetrators to the fullest extent of the law.”

“I beg you give her justice. We will go after the Filipino recruiters and government officials who put her in harm’s way,” Locsin said.

The killing of the Filipina, according to the DFA, is a violation of the agreement signed by the Philippine and Kuwaiti governments in 2018 for their protection.

The DFA said the continuing incidents of violence and abuse of Filipino domestic workers in Kuwait violate the spirit of the agreement signed in May 2018 that seeks to promote and protect their welfare.

Malacañang yesterday vowed to work for justice for Villavende’s death.

“The Palace expresses its outrage over the death of Filipino worker Jeanelyn Padernal Villavende allegedly at the hands of her female employer, who is now in custody of Kuwaiti authorities,” presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo said.  – With Christina Mendez, Delon Porcalla, Evelyn Macairan, Mayen Jaymalin