DMW apologizes for sending wrong remains to family of deceased OFW
MANILA, Philippines – The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) apologized for repatriating the wrong remains to the family of an overseas Filipino worker (OFW) who died in Kuwait.
On the sidelines of a press conference on Tuesday, January 14, Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Cacdac personally took accountability for the mistake involving OFW Jenny Alvarado, who reportedly died due to suffocation.
“Humingi ako ng paumanhin sa nangyari [sa pamilya]. Ang nangyari ay nagbigay ako ng direktiba na bilisan ang kanyang pagpapauwi. Ngayon, ‘yung service provider natin doon, ‘yung private shipping service provider, ay nagsagawa ng pag-repatriate ng remains. Ang tinukoy na labi ay naiba, pero nasa pangalan ni Jenny. So may pagkakamali,” said Cacdac.
(I apologized to the family. I gave a directive to hasten the repatriation of her remains. Now, our service provider there, the private shipping service provider, processed the repatriation of the remains. The body that was shipped was not Jenny’s, but it was under her name, so there was a mistake.)
“I take full responsibility dahil ako rin ang nagsabi na agaran ang pagpapauwi ni Jenny (because it was I who said Jenny should be brought home immediately), which might have caused the mistake,” he added.
Still, Cacdac said he instructed the department’s labor attaché and lawyers on the ground to investigate how the mistake occurred, and if anyone should be liable. The DMW plans to pursue legal claims if they determine liability, he said.
The DMW did not provide information on the body that was repatriated, but media reports said the remains were that of a foreigner.
Call for justice
Overseas Workers Welfare Administration chief Arnell Ignacio said in a GMA News Online report that Alvarado reportedly died of coal suffocation.
The Samahan ng mga DH sa Gitnang Silangan or SANDIGAN on Monday, January 13, called on the DMW to “urgently repatriate Jenny’s remains, conduct an immediate investigation on her death, and bring justice to the family.”
Cacdac said the department is studying calls for a new deployment ban to Kuwait, despite just recently tightening its restrictions for deployment there.
Several high-profile murders of OFWs like Jullebee Ranara and Joanna Demafelis have happened in the Gulf country, which have led to cycles of deployment bans and policy reforms. – Rappler.com