Slain OFW in Kuwait was sexually abused, autopsy report shows

Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 12) — An autopsy conducted by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) has discovered that Filipina domestic worker Jeanelyn Villavende, who was killed in Kuwait recently, could have been sexually abused as well.

Department of Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said that the body of Villavende has “clear indications of sexual abuse” based on the autopsy done last Jan. 10.

Authorities have said Villavende had been beaten “black and blue” before being taken to the hospital.

An embalming certificate released by the Kuwait's Ministry of Health confirmed that the 26-year-old overseas Filipino worker was killed on December 28, 2019. Her family only learned about her death two days after.

Further, Guevarra said that NBI’s autopsy also found out that Villavende could have been beaten weeks before her death.

“There were also old healed wounds indicating that Villavende had been battered weeks prior to the fateful incident.”

The formal report by the NBI will be submitted to him on Monday, January 13.

The Philippine Overseas Employment Administration has already filed an administrative case against the agency that recruited Villavende.

Meanwhile, Department of Labor and Employment Secretary Silvestre Bello III recently said that there might be a total ban on the deployment of Filipino workers to Kuwait if Villavende’s autopsy report would show that she was badly beaten.

CNN Philippines' Anjo Calimario and Vince Ferreras contributed to this report