OFW dies after being attacked by Kuwaiti employer’s pet lion

The family members of OFW Lourdes Hingco Abejuela, 50, are demanding justice after she died due to her injuries from being attacked by her Kuwaiti employer’s pet lion.

Horrible attack

Abejuela, who hails from Bagacay, Ozamiz City, died days after being attacked by a lion owned by her employer. She suffered deep bite wounds on her left legs, according to her friend, Nieva Edullantes.

“Naiyak ako, ang sakit. May mga mahal kami sa Pilipinas iniwan naming pamilya namin tapos ganito lang ang mangyayari? Nasaktan din ako, gusto ko rin magkaroon ng justice kahit sino naman po,” said Edullantes.

Initially, everyone thought Abejuela would survive the injuries she suffered from the lion attack. That’s because on December 6, Abejuela was able to inform family and friends about what happened to her by posting on Facebook.

Investigation showed that Abejuela was doing laundry on the rooftop where the lion is also kept. The cage was left unlocked and the lion attacked Abejuela.

Doctors weren’t told the truth

“Inattack daw siya ng leon. Dinala siya sa ospital. Pagkatapos, iyong ospital na iyon hindi alam na kinagat siya ng lion. Iba daw ang sinabi kasi bawal daw. Nakiusap daw ang amo niya na huwag sabihin. So nung nasa ospital na siya, pinalabas siya agad,” recounted Edullante.

Abejuela had been working for her employer for 15 years. She was discharged after her employer lied to doctors at the hospital, saying that a dog attacked her.

Under Kuwaiti law, residents are not allowed to own lions and other wild animals as pets.

Second trip to the hospital

According to Abejuela’s boyfriend Danny Lagrimas, she was rushed back to the hospital the following day, December 7.

“Sabi niya pinauwi raw siya ng doktor kasi hayop lang daw ang nakakagat sa kanya. Sabi ko, bakit pinauwi ka? Malaki yung kagat ng leon,” Lagrimas said.

On December 10, Abejuela died.

“Ang sa aking lang naman po, kahit yung mga kasamahan ko sa bahay, gusto namin yung justice. Kahit pa po mabait pa yung amo niya, iyon ang sabi niya sa amin. Mali po eh, kahit kami mga katulong, gusto namin ng justice,” Edullante said.

Homicide case vs. employer

The legal counsel of the Philippine Embassy filed a case of criminal negligence resulting to homicide against the victim’s employer.

“For the repatriation of the remains of this person will be done by the embassy quickly, and of course, we also have an angle, we have to see what happened in the hospital. She should have been admitted but she’s an outpatient, which is some kind of a medical malpractice that occurred there,” said charge d’Affaires Atty. Raul Dado.