Pinay Maid Jumps to Death in Kuwait
By Maxxy Santiago, ABS-CBN Middle East News Bureau
Posted at 05/26/2015 9:51 AM | Updated as of 05/26/2015 1:40 PM
KUWAIT – A Filipina household service worker (HSW) allegedly committed suicide by jumping off the fifth floor of her agency’s accommodation in Hawally on May 22.
Helen Riobuya Sarocam fell on the windshield of a parked car. She died on the spot.
The 41-year-old native of Monkayo, Compostela Valley was reportedly suffering from depression due to homesickness.
According to her agency, Sarocam arrived in Kuwait on December 19, 2014. Her first employer returned her to them after she complained that she had some problems with her lady employer.
Last May 20, her second employer took Sarocam back to the agency after she allegedly complained of homesickness and wanted to go home.
Her agency asked her to execute an affidavit at the Philippine Embassy in Faiha on May 21, stating the reasons why she wanted to go home.
In the copy of the affidavit obtained by the ABS-CBN Middle East, Sarocam said she missed her kids and family and she just wanted to go home. She asked for the embassy’s help since she cannot complete her two-year contract anymore.
The agency agreed to let her go home and was supposed to leave on May 24. However, she committed suicide at around 5 a.m. on May 22.
“Noong dumating siya sa agency, tahimik siya, di gaanong nagsasalita. Ayaw din kumain. Gusto na raw niya talagang umuwi. Parang wala siya sa sarili niya,” stated the agency secretary who requested for anonymity.
Meanwhile, Sarocam’s three roommates in the agency accommodation were shocked with what happened.
Amina, not her real name, said they thought Sarocam was only cleaning the windows.
“Kasi araw-araw, sinisiksik niya ito tapos maingay. Pagkatapos noon, parang wala lang sa amin, natulog lang kami,” Amina said.
Agnes, their other roommate, said she attempted to pull Sarocam inside but she resisted and eventually fell.
“Yung katawan niya nasa labas na tapos yong kamay niya nahawakan naming, pinilit namin siyang tulungan na huwag tatalon tapos pinipilit niya yong katawan niya na pinapalayo,” she said.
Their third roommate named Maria added, “Pero madulas talaga ang kamay niya, hindi namin kinaya. Nagpupumiglas siya nong hinihila namin siya. Nagpupumiglas siya nabitawan namin siya.”
The three claimed that Sarocam had been quiet since she arrived in the agency accommodation. She kept herself busy cleaning the room and she ate only once during her entire stay there.
Philippine Charge d’ Affaires Atty. Raul Dado visited the agency accommodation and asked the agency secretary and the victim’s roommates to shed light on the incident.
Sarocam’s body had been referred to the Forensics Department for further investigation.
“Napaka-cooperative naman ng agency nito. They have shown us all the evidence. They have been transparent and helpful. At the moment, we’re suspending the paperwork for agencies pero more than that, we want to take a look at what happened here kung dapat talaga tayong mag deploy mga vulnerable OFWs dito sa Middle East,” said Dado.
The embassy vowed to expedite the repatriation of Sarocam’s remains as soon as the investigation by Kuwaiti authorities is completed.