The Filipino domestic worker who was in critical condition after her employer turned her over to the Saudi Social Welfare Agency (SWA) in Riyadh last month has died, according to a member of her family.

In response to a query by Arab News, the Philippine Embassy said that its national was not a victim of rape as was reported earlier. Arab News is yet to receive further information from the embassy.

Quoting a cousin of the deceased, the migrant rights group, Migrante-Middle East (M-ME), said the 17 year-old from Kabuntalan, Maguindanao, died around 3 p.m. on Friday.

The Riyadh-based Migrante leader John Leonard Monterona said the news was confirmed by her cousin Henry, who is in Riyadh.

Confirmation of the death came via a phone call from an official of the Philippine Overseas Labor Office-Overseas Workers Welfare Agency (POLO-OWWA) who gave him the news.

“We thought that OFW Rina was on the road to recovery. According to Henry, he had been assured by the embassy and POLO-OWWA that there were signs that Rina would recover,” Monterona revealed.

Rina was brought by her employer to the Social Welfare Agency on Sept. 19 in a state of extreme weakness. On Sept. 24, she could no longer walk and talk and slipped into coma, according to a source.

“We were informed of the sad news of Rina whose real name is Rehana Lusay Bayan,” Monterona said.

He explained that his group had publicly campaigned to save Rina with calls for blood donation and the provision of medial care and attention. “She was in the ICU and we were barred from going to see her there.”

Rina was allegedly a victim of brutality. “We and her family in the Philippines demand justice. It is now in the hands of the embassy and POLO-OWWA officials to pursue a case against Rina’s employer,” said Monterona.

“Heads must roll. The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) and the Department of Labor and Employment (DoLE) must conduct an investigation and punish their officials who were remiss in providing protection and immediate assistance to Rina,” Monterona demanded.

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