Robredo on OFW death in Kuwait: Make sure it won’t happen again

Vice President Leni Robredo on Sunday calls for a thorough study of the measure that will address the recurring killings of overseas Filipino workers in Kuwait.
OFW Jeanelyn Villavende was allegedly killed by her employer’s wife in Kuwait recently. Reports indicated that Villavende was "black and blue" and "already dead" when she was rushed to the hospital.
“Dapat siguruhin na hindi na siya mangyayari sa susunod,” she said in her radio program.
Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III announced the implementation of partial deployment ban to Kuwait in light of the incident.
Robredo pointed out that, in 2018, the government already enforced a suspension of OFW deployment to Kuwait following the death of Pinoy worker Joanna Demafelis, but the killings keep on happening.
“Nagkaroon na rin ng ganito, na-suspend siya 2018, noong namatay naman si Joanna… Kailangan talagang pag-aralan ito dahil kahit na na-suspend siya, nagkaroon ng memorandum of agreement, nangyari na naman,” she said.
In 2018, the Philippines and Kuwait signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) for the protection of Filipino workers in the Gulf state.
“Hindi talaga nasusunod,” Robredo said.
On Friday, ACTS-OFW party-list chair John Bertiz called on the government to impose a total deployment ban on household workers to Kuwait, instead of partial. —Joviland Rita/LBG, GMA News

Kuwait told: Show charge sheet vs. OFW killers, or deployment ban stays

Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III on Sunday said he needs to see a charge sheet against the supposed killers of Filipina domestic worker Jeanelyn Villavende before he considers the lifting of the partial deployment ban of Overseas Filipino Workers to Kuwait.
In a Dobol B sa News TV interview, Bello said he will consider lifting the partial deployment ban to Kuwait if the perpetrators of Villavende's killing are formally charged.
"The reason why we decided to impose itong deployment ban is to send a message to the Kuwaiti authorities na we want justice to our Jeanelyn. Short of that, it may ripen to a total deployment ban. Kaya hinihintay namin na ma-charge," he said.
"Kapag [nakasuhan na] nila yung dalawang suspect, we will consider lifting. Pero kapag hindi ginawa yan, magiging total deployment ban na," he added.
Bello said an ambassador in Kuwait told him that the suspects have already been charged, but he demanded for proof.


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