Labor group Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP) vehemently slammed the ‘fake’ autopsy report released by the Kuwaiti government after the National Bureau of Investigation’s (NBI) autopsy report revealed that slain domestic helper Jeanelyn Villavende was raped and brutally murdered.
The death of Villaverde has once again aroused the ire of the Philippine government following the apparent disregard of the Kuwaiti government in holding their end of the deal after signing a memorandum of understanding (MOU) last year for the better treatment of OFWs in the Gulf State.
TUCP Slams Kuwaiti Government’s ‘Fake’ Autopsy on OFW Death
In line with this, the TUCP, in a statement, shared that the attempt to whitewash the brutal murder of Villavende through the autopsy report submitted to the government’s Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) and the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) became apparent after NBI found out that her death is not merely due to physical injuries as indicated in the Kuwaiti official autopsy report but due to grave injuries and brutal sexual abuse, as shared in a report by Manila Bulletin.
According to TUCP President Raymond Mendoza, “We strongly condemn this so-called fake autopsy report submitted by the Kuwaiti to the Philippine government. This is completely a willful dishonest attempt of the Kuwaiti government to cover up the heinous crime committed by the Kuwaiti national principal suspects and whitewash the gruesome act of inhumanity.”
Mendoza added, “The Filipino people and the overseas Filipino workers, in particular, are demanding the Philippine government to make a strong response and condemn this unacceptable act of bad faith on the part of the Kuwaiti government.“
In response to this, the House of Representatives’ Committee on Overseas Foreign Workers Affairs wants to investigate the circumstances that led to Jeanelyn’s death and how these can help improve the current policy of the government and strengthen the government processes and mechanisms in providing care and assistance to OFWs particularly who are in distress.
Moreover, the TUCP chief also explained that the congressional probe will also look into the discrepancies in the alleged employment contract of Jeanelyn with her Kuwaiti employer and the memorandum of agreement on the employment of domestic workers between Kuwait and Philippine governments.
Initially, President Duterte was not for the imposition of a deployment ban on Kuwait, but after recent findings in the autopsy conducted by the NBI which brought into light the angle that the slain Filipina domestic worker was also sexually abused, the president has approved Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III’s recommendation for a deployment ban on overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) to the Gulf state.
It is worth noting though that this year’s deployment ban to Kuwait covers household service workers, semi-skilled workers, skilled workers and professionals, including crew changes and shore leaves of Filipino seafarers. However, OFWs who were able to secure their overseas employment certificate before Jan. 15 can still fly to Kuwait.
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