Gatchalian seeks probe on Kuwait’s fake autopsy report on Villavende’s death

MANILA, Philippines — Senator Sherwin Gatchalian wants those behind the alleged fake autopsy report by Kuwaiti authorities on the brutal death of a Filipina household service worker investigated.

Based on the embalming certificate from the Kuwaiti government, Jeanelyn Villavende died last month due to “acute failure of heart and respiration as result by shock and multiple injuries in the vascular nervous system.”

A separate autopsy conducted by the National Bureau of Investigation, however, showed that Villavende was not only tortured but was also sexually abused by her employer before she was killed.

“Itong pagbigay ng pekeng autopsy report ay insulto sa atin ‘yan bilang Filipino, insulto sa ating gobyerno at insulto sa ating mga OFWs (overseas Filipino workers) na naghihirap na magtrabaho sa ibang bansa,” Gatchalian said at a weekly forum in the Senate.

(This fake autopsy report is an insult to us as Filipinos, an insult to our government, and an insult to our OFWs who are working hard abroad.)

READ: Gatchalian wants Kuwait ambassador summoned over death of OFW

“At ating ninanais ay makamit ang katarungan para kay Ms Villavende pero hindi natin makakamit ‘yan kung ‘yung Kuwaiti government ay hindi makikipag operate at worse, bibigyan pa tayo ng fake autopsy report,” he said.

(What we want is justice for Ms Villavende but we can’t achieve that if the Kuwaiti government won’t cooperate and worse, would give us fake autopsy report.)

This fake autopsy report, he said, showed the lack of sincerity on the part of the Kuwaiti government.

“Dapat maimbestigahan din kung bakit nagkaroon ng fake autopsy report at sino ang gumawa nitong fake autopsy report,” Gatchalian said.

(This fake autopsy report must be investigated also as well as those behind this fake autopsy report.)

The senator then backed the government’s move to temporarily halt the deployment of Filipino household workers in Kuwait until justice has been served to Villavende.

READ: Labor chief hits ‘cover-up’ on Kuwait OFW’s death

Despite a memorandum of agreement (MOA) signed in 2018 between the two countries, Gatchalian also noted that Filipino workers continue to suffer from the hands of their abusive employers in Kuwait.

Their passports and cellphones have been confiscated, a clear violation of the 2018 labor agreement, the senator said.

“Hindi naimplement so nagiging walang saysay yung MOA na pinirmahan. Parang toilet paper na lang,” Gatchalian lamented.

(It wasn’t implemented so the MOA that was signed was worthless, as if it was just toilet paper.)