The father of a 26-year-old Palaweña migrant worker who reportedly committed suicide in Kuwait in July suspects there was foul play in her death and is seeking the support of Philippine overseas authorities to probe her case.
Percival Nacasi, father of Overseas Filipino Worker (OFW) Kamish Nacasi, said they do not believe she would commit suicide by hanging herself on July 12 in Kuwait where she worked for two years.
Kamish flew to the Western Asia country on December 24, 2016, as a baby sitter. Her contract ended in December 2018, however, her employer requested her to extend while waiting for her replacement.
Her remains were flown to Puerto Princesa City on August 7.
“Hiling namin ay magkaroon naman ng katarungan ang pagkamatay ng anak ko. Magkaroon sana ng fair investigation para magkaroon ng kaluwagan sa puso namin — na matahimik na rin kami. Kung sakaling may foul play, sana aksyonan ng ating gobyerno. Hindi kami naniniwalang magpapakamatay ang anak ko,” Percival said.
He said that when Kamish’ contract ended, her employer Jassim Mohammad Ahmad Bandar and her agency Ali Adnan Al-Ali Est for Recruitment of Domestic Employment requested her to extend her contract to wait for her replacement.
Naturally kind, he said her daughter agreed although he knew she was already eager to go back home.
“Sa nakikita ko sa sitwasyon niya, napapapayag lang din siya kasi wala rin siyang magawa doon,” he said.
Percival said that during one of their video chats, Kamish told them that she had not encountered any serious problem regarding the Bandar family.
Kamish was supposed to go home in March 2019 but her employer allegedly told her that her passport was missing.
Her daughter reported the incident to the Philippine Embassy that had told her she would be issued a new passport on July 22 after she had submitted an affidavit of loss.
“Ang last video call namin ay July 5 at wala naman siyang nabanggit sa akin na problema kahit sa ate niya, ‘yong kuya niya, o sa tita nila. After that, ang chat kasi ng ate niya at sa mga pinsan niya ay constant naman, wala naman, casual ‘yong kanilang conversation. Wala siyang binabanggit na kung ano tapos all of the sudden after noong July 12, tsina-chat siya, wala nang reply, samantalang palagi naman naka-online ‘yan,” he added.
He said his last video call with Kamish was on July 5.
Percival said that on July 19, it was another Filipina OFW in the same building who informed them about Kamish’ death.
“Paanong nangyari? Ang sabi ay lumakad daw ‘yong amo niya at itong kasambahay na tumawag ay isinama noong amo ni Kim (Kamish) at siya ay iniwan mag-isa doon sa building. Ang pinagtataka ko, bakit naman siya iiwanan at ‘yon ang isasama samantalang siya naman ang nag-aalaga sa mga anak ng amo niya? Pupuwede ba hiramin ang kasambahay ng ibang employer?” he asked.
He said that when they asked the Filipina OFW about Kamish’ death, she declined to share any information to them.
Percival suspects that the OFW was scared to be linked to her daughter’s death.
Percival said he tried to reach out to her daughter’s employer but due to language barrier, they could not understand each other.
He said it is also suspicious that Bandar did not inform Kamish’ employer immediately about her death and only did so on July 21.
“Kasi makikita mo bakit ganoon? Parang wala silang pakialam sa mga na-deploy nilang tao kasi kung iisipin mo responsibilidad nila ang alamin kung ano ba ang nangyari. At the same time, see to it na mabalik nila sa pamilya pero nakikita ko ‘yong lapses ng agency na nandoon at saka ‘yong embassy. Hindi ko alam kung anong ginagawa ng embahada natin doon, parang di nila nakikita ‘yong welfare ng kanilang dini-deploy,” he said.
Percival said he is not convinced that Kamish will end her life in Kuwait because she has two daughters to support.
“Tinitingnan ko ang anggulo kung bakit siya magpapakamatay. Pumunta lang ‘yan doon para maghanapbuhay, para mabigyan ng magandang kinabukasan ang mga anak niya. Hindi mo maaalis sa akin na maghinala na mayroong foul play sa pagkamatay niya. Kilala ko ‘yong anak ko, hindi siya magpapakamatay,” he said.
The family had already requested the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to conduct an autopsy on Sunday, August 11, before her remains are buried.
The local agency of Kamish, Midul International Human Resource, Inc. had already extended financial assistance to her family while the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) is arranging the support it could provide to her children.
“Sana mabuksan ‘yong kaisipan ng gobyerno na protektahan ang OFW na nagpapakahirap para mabigyan ng magandang kinabukasan ang kanilang mga pamilya. Sana wala ng madagdag. Pinakahuli na sana ‘yong anak ko,” Percival said.
