By REY PANALIGAN
Justice Secretary Menardo I. Guevarra said yesterday “there were clear indications” that slain overseas Filipino worker Jeanelyn Villavende was sexually abused.
“There were also old healed wounds indicating that Villavende had been battered weeks prior to the fateful incident,” Guevarra also said citing the results of autopsy done by the National Bureau of Investigation.
The body of Villavende was autopsied by the chief of the NBI medico-legal division, Dr. Ricardo Rodaje, last Friday in Cotabato.
Guevarra said the NBI’s formal report on the autopsy will be submitted to him today.
Guevarra had earlier ordered the NBI to conduct an autopsy “so we can have our own independent findings.”
A preliminary report submitted by Labor Attache Nasser Mustafa stated that Villavende was beaten to death and was already dead when she was brought to a hospital in Kuwait.
“As to Villavende, the NBI will do its own autopsy even as the Department of Justice examines any possible liability on the part of Villavende’s recruiter,” Guevarra said.
He had earlier directed the NBI to conduct a probe on Villavende’s recruiter.
Guevarra pointed out that the Philippine government will assist the Kuwaiti government in investigating Villavende’s death.
“As to the crime itself, the Kuwaiti authorities have exclusive jurisdiction but we could provide any legal assistance that they may need, such as providing documents, affidavits of family members, autopsy report, email, text messages, photographs, among other things,” he stressed.
On the reports of Villavende’s unpaid salaries, Guevarra said the matter will be handled by the Department of Labor and Employment.
He assured that the DoJ will cooperate fully with the DoLE in the investigation.
Villavende’s body arrived last Wednesday and was brought to Cotabato last Thursday.
Labor Secretary Silvestre H. Bello III, who visited Villavende’s wake and condoled with the relatives, said a total deployment ban for Filipino workers to Kuwait will be enforced depending on the outcome of the NBI’s autopsy.
A partial deployment ban had been imposed by the government after Villavende’s death last Dec. 30.
A published report stated that Bello had met with the NBI official who conducted the autopsy.
The report stated that Bello could not contain his emotions over what was told him about the autopsy.
He was quoted as having said: “What they did was worse. Jeanelyn was gravely abused.”
