10 October 2005 – Ambassador Antonio C. Modena of the Philippine Embassy in Tel Aviv, Israel, reported to the Department of Foreign Affairs that OFW Jennifer Solomon-Padegdeg – the caregiver accused by Israeli police of negligence leading to the death of her 92-year-old ward/employer Mme. Zahava Dagani – was released from Abu Kabir prison in Tel Aviv on 7 October 2005 after an Israeli court found no culpability on her part for the said death.

Ambassador Modena informed the Department that on 5 October 2005 he directed Vice-Consul Thaddeus Hamoy and Assistance-to-Nationals (ATN) Officer Rodrigo Gavino to visit OFW Jennifer at the Abu Kabir prison to inform her of her rights and assure her of the Embassy’s assistance.

During the visit, OFW Jennifer related to the Embassy representatives the events leading to the death of her ward Mme. Dagani.  According to Jennifer, Mme. Dagani was afflicted with Alzheimer’s disease and diabetes.   She also frequently lost balance and fell, which explains the hematoma or bruising found by the police in different parts of her body.  Jennifer also related that she had previously requested from her ward’s physician to purchase a walker for her ward because the old woman was heavy and Jennifer sometimes could not cushion her fall.

According to Ambassador Modena’s report, Jennifer and her ward were in the bathroom when Mme. Dagani had an attack and became unconscious.  Jennifer then called for an ambulance three times, and the emergency service instructed her to give her ward something sweet and a chest massage.  Her ward expired just as the ambulance crew arrive.  That was when the police were summoned to the scene.

Ambassador Modena further reported that on the evening of 5 October 2005, Jennifer, assisted by public defender Alaa Masarwe, related to the Israeli court the circumstances leading to her ward’s death.   Jennifer, in a telephone call to ATN Officer Gavino afterwards, then reported that the judge did not see culpability on her part.  The police then requested and were allowed to keep Jennifer in custody until Friday, 7 October 2005, when the autopsy on Mme. Dagani shall have been completed.

On the afternoon of 6 October 2005, Advocate Alaa Masarwe informed the Embassy that Jennifer was expected to be released on that day.  Ambassador Modena then directed Vice Consul Hamoy and ATN Officer Gavino to go to Abu Kabir prison to escort Jennifer out of the detention facility.

Ambassador Modena stated that upon her release from detention, Jennifer returned to the apartment of her employer.  She informed the Embassy representatives who escorted her that if she feels alone in the apartment, she will transfer to her friend’s apartment in an adjacent building.  END