Pinay domestic helper dies in Saudi Arabia after month-long coma

The Filipina domestic helper in Saudi Arabia who underwent a delicate surgery to remove a blood clot in her brain in September died after being in a coma for a month, an online report said.

A report on Arab News said the victim, Rehana "Rina" Lusay Bayan, died around 3 p.m. on October 23, based on information shared by her Riyadh-based cousin Henry.

Bayan was initially reported as a rape victim who was dropped off at the Saudi Social Welfare Agency (SWA) last September 19 by her employer in a weakened state.

The Arab News report said the Philippine Embassy in Saudi Arabia denied that Bayan was a victim of rape.

Despite this, migrants' rights group Migrante-Middle East is still calling for justice for Bayan, and urged the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) and the Department of Labor and Employment (DoLE) to conduct an investigation.

"We and her family in the Philippines demand justice," said Migrante-Middle East leader John Leonard Monterona in the Arab News report. "It is now in the hands of the embassy and POLO-OWWA officials to pursue a case against Rina's employer."

The group's spokesperson Francis Dungca had earlier told GMA News Online that Bayan was lucid enough when she was brought to the SWA to tell them that she was gagged with silicon and clay and sexually-abused.

However, she was unable to identify her attackers before she fell into a coma on September 24. —Rie Takumi/KBK, GMA News

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