Family of OFW who died in fall in Singapore cries murder

DAVAO CITY—The family of a 23-year-old Filipino domestic help who died in a fall from a condominium building in Singapore last May 11 is demanding an investigation of the migrant worker’s death, saying signs of foul play were found by a forensic expert based here.

Apple Gamale was barely two days in the employ of couple Chew Li Ching and Ling Kah Hing, both doctors, in Singapore at the time of her death.

Her elder brother, Reynaldo, said the family believed Apple had been murdered.

Citing a copy of a report of the Singapore hospital where Apple was declared dead, Reynaldo said Apple died from multiple body injuries after she fell from a condominium building adjacent to the building that housed her employers’ condominium unit.

“She was a happy girl. She had no depression,” said Reynaldo. “She did not commit suicide.”

One indication of foul play, Reynaldo said, was that Apple fell from a building different from the one where her employers lived.

If Apple really wanted to kill herself, Reynaldo said, “she could have simply jumped off the window of her employers’ condominium unit.”

Dr. Danilo Ledesma, head of Davao City’s medico-legal team that performed autopsy on Apple’s remains, said the team found “blunt head injuries” that could be the cause of death.

“Blunt head injuries can be caused by anything beyond suicide,” said Ledesma.

The forensic team also found bruises in the remains’ knees, shoulders, elbows and hands.

“She might have been beaten,” Ledesma said. Karlos Manlupig and Mick Basa, Inquirer Mindanao