Suspect nabbed in slay of Pinoy in Kuwait

January 3, 2025 | 12:00am

MANILA, Philippines —  The prime suspect in the killing of a Filipina worker in Kuwait is now under police custody, the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) said yesterday.

Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Cacdac said an investigation is ongoing and the lawyers hired by the Philippine government are closely coordinating with Kuwaiti authorities.

Cacdac clarified, however, that it is still unclear if the Kuwaiti employer is involved in the killing, as the probe continues, noting that Kuwaiti authorities only received the information about the killing on Dec. 28.

The remains of the Filipina worker, he added, would be flown home after the investigation is completed.

Based on information from the DMW, the Filipina left the country in 2019 to work in Kuwait.

“She was gainfully employed for the last five years. As far as we know, she had absconded her original employer and transferred to another,” Cacdac said in a radio interview yesterday.

The Filipina last communicated with her family in October 2024 and there was no report that she went missing until last December.

“We have lawyers on the ground who are closely monitoring this case. It is our best interest to push for the prosecution of the prime suspect and justice be attained,” Cacdac noted.

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) previously reported that the remains of the Filipina were already in a state of decomposition when found inside the house of the Kuwaiti employer.

Cacdac said the DMW is extending to the family of the Filipina worker all necessary assistance, including repatriation of the remains.

Washing machine death

Meanwhile, the Philippines is readying its “best defense” for the overseas Filipino worker (OFW) accused of killing the child of her employer in Kuwait.

The OFW allegedly killed the infant by placing the victim inside a washing machine “out of frustration.”

Cacdac said lawyers hired by the Philippine government are looking into the mental condition of the OFW after the DFA reported that the Filipina was having mental health problems and was depressed at the time of the incident.

“She is entitled to legal defense. So, we have lawyers on hand to provide legal assistance to our OFW,” Cacdac said yesterday, noting that the woman is under prosecution before a Kuwaiti court.