Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) building in Pasay City on September 5, 2022. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News/File.MANILA — The overseas Filipino worker who allegedly killed a Kuwaiti child may have been having personal or mental health problems, an official of the Department of Foreign Affairs said, citing unverified information that he said reached the embassy in Kuwait.

Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Eduardo De Vega said the Philippine Embassy in Kuwait has received reports that the Filipino domestic worker was 'depressed' when the incident happened.

The domestic worker allegedly placed the victim inside a washing machine 'out of frustration' because the child was 'disturbing' her, according to reports of Gulf News and Arab Times. 

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'NOT A NORMAL THING TO DO'

"I cannot confirm pero based on the news, I does look like 'yun nga eh she was annoyed or depressed. May narinig 'yung embassy na meron daw siyang depression or something. Because alam naman natin hindi normal 'to na gagawin mo 'yun," De Vega told ABS-CBN News in a phone interview on Dec. 29, Sunday.

(Based on the news, it seems she was annoyed or depressed. The embassy heard that she had depression or something. We know that's not a normal act)

Depression is a common mental health condition but the American Psychological Association noted in 2022 that "perpetrating violence is relatively uncommon among those with serious mental illness." 

In cases when it happens, the mental health disorder is often "intertwined with other issues such as co-occurring substance use, adverse childhood experiences, and environmental factors," APA also said.

"So, we're going by that and what we're trying to do is provide the proper assistance kasi ini-imbestigahan na 'yan for legal action to be taken against her, so kailangan, true to our mandate, we're going to assist her," he added. 

He said the Philippine Embassy in Kuwait and the Department of Migrant Workers attaches will extend legal and psychosocial assistance to the OFW. 

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EMBASSY YET TO TALK TO OFW

De Vega said the embassy has yet to talk to the Filipino domestic worker as she is still being held under police custody.

He said the OFW is from Alcala, Cagayan and has been in Kuwait since 2015.

De Vega noted that he is still awaiting the official report from the embassy if the OFW's family in the Philippines has been notified about the situation. 

The DFA xec said he remains hopeful that this will not affect the good reputation of Filipinos in Kuwait. 

"This is an isolated incident just like pag may Kuwaiti na nanakit ng Pilipina. Well, hindi naman natin sinasabing lahat ng Kuwaiti ganun. Kaya nga na-lift 'yung ban. So we hope the Kuwaitis will understand," De Vega said, referring to a deployment ban announced in 2023 over the murder of OFW Jullebee Ranara.