Leo Vecina, the husband of May, in his letter addressed to President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, urged the Philippine government to exert all means to safeguard her wife who is still confined in one of the hospitals in Kuwait.
He told DXND Radio for Peace that his wife was hospitalized for fractures when she jumped off from the second floor of their apartment after killing the six-year-old son of her Kuwaiti employer.
Leo asked the President to save the life of his wife and, if possible, bring her back alive to their home in Matalam, North Cotabato. The couple has two children, Quennie Jane, 6 and King James, 2.
“I’ve already accepted the fate of my wife. But I still hope that our government could do something to help her,” he said.
Reports said that May was forced to react violently to insults hurled at her by her employer’s family. Aside from the murdered boy, she reportedly hurt two other children of her employer.
The provincial government of North Cotabato has already extended assistance to Leo, especially in his travel to Kuwait to see the health condition of his wife.
Gov. Emmanuel Piñol said in a radio interview that the provincial government is now helping Leo in securing passport and visa for his immediate flight to Kuwait.
The governor has also appealed to the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) in Region 12 to extend financial help for Leo’s trip.
“Let us help the family of Leo Vecina that as of the moment remains in shock following the sad incident that happened to his wife in the Middle East,” Piñol said.
Piñol noted that May is the first OFW from North Cotabato who is facing murder charges in a foreign country.
The provincial government has been sending OFWs to many parts of the world since 1998 under its Job Enhancement Employment Program (JEEP). But the governor said May was not in the official list of OFWs who availed of the program.
Marilyn Padios, public employment services officer of Matalam, disclosed that May was able to land a job abroad through a private recruitment agency accredited by the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration.
Padios said May has documents that prove her legal OFW status and thus entitled to benefits being given by OWWA. (Williamor A. Magbanua / MindaNews)
