OFW falls to death in Morocco after argument with employer

A female Filipino worker died after falling from a third-floor apartment in Morocco, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said on Monday (June 24).

In a statement, the DFA said the Filipino died from injuries she sustained shortly after falling on Saturday.

DFA issued a bulletin stating:

“The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) expresses its condolences to the family of a Filipina who fell to her death in Morocco on Saturday. The Philippine Embassy in Tripoli, which has jurisdiction over Morocco, said the victim died from injuries she sustained shortly after falling while reportedly trying to escape from a third floor apartment in Casablanca on Saturday.

Embassy Chargé d’Affaires Elmer G. Cato said the victim reportedly had an argument with her employer and then tried to escape using pieces of garment she tied together. The employer was taken into custody by authorities pending the outcome of the investigation they are conducting. The Embassy has dispatched a consular team to Casablanca to coordinate with authorities and arrange for the repatriation of the victim. END”

The Philippine Embassy in Tripoli, which has jurisdiction over Morocco, said the Filipina fell to her death while reportedly trying to escape from her employer’s apartment in Casablanca.

“Embassy Chargé d’Affaires Elmer G. Cato said the victim reportedly had an argument with her employer and then tried to escape using pieces of garment she tied together,” the DFA said.

The department added that authorities have already taken the employer into custody pending the outcome of the ongoing investigation.

A consular team has also been deployed to Morocco for the repatriation of the victim’s remains.

“The Embassy has dispatched a consular team to Casablanca to coordinate with authorities and arrange for the repatriation of the victim,” the DFA said.

Victim of human trafficking

The overseas Filipino worker who fell to her death in Morocco was a victim of human trafficking, Chargé d’Affaires Elmer Cato said Tuesday.

In an update on Twitter, Cato said the 49-year-old household service worker “was recruited in the Philippines for a job in Dubai but ended up in Morocco instead.”