OFW succumbs to cancer at quarantine facility despite pleas of hospital transfer

An overseas Filipino worker succumbed to cancer at a hotel quarantine facility the same day she was set to go home after pleas for a hospital transfer were not granted due to supposed lack of available rooms.

According to Tina Panganiban-Perez’s report on “24 Oras,” Rachelle Sagonoy landed in Cebu on August 10 from Saudi Arabia. She tested negative for COVID-19 and was brought to a quarantine facility.

The family said they pleaded for Sagonoy to be quarantined at a hospital due to her cervical cancer.

“Habang inaasikaso pa lamang po siya na siya ay mapunta sa quarantine facility, hirap na siyang huminga. Siya po ay hindi na kayang kumilos mag-isa,” Ma. Cecilia de Guia, Sagonoy’s cousin, said.

(While they were still preparing for her quarantine, she was already having difficulty breathing. She couldn’t move alone anymore.)

“Hindi po siya napagbiyan na siya ay mailagay man lang sa ospital,” she added.

(She wasn’t allowed to be transferred to a hospital.)

While undergoing quarantine, Sagonoy was still able to talk to her family through chat and video calls.

“Gusto ko na talagang ma-confine, sabi niyang ganon. Wala namang problemang i-quarantine siya kahit ilang araw pa ‘yan basta nasa ospital. Doon siya i-quarantine. Bakit sa hotel pa siya kailangan i-quarantine,” Guia said.

(She said she really wanted to be confined. She had no problem with the quarantine, no matter how long as long as it was in the hospital. Why did it have to be in a hotel?)

Her family received news of her death on August 20, the day her quarantine ended.

“Nag-iyakan na kami. Siya raw po ay binawian na ng buhay doon mismo sa hotel sa Cebu City,” Guia said.

(We cried. They said she passed away at the hotel in Cebu City.)

Sagonoy has two daughters, a grade 8 and a grade 7 student. She was cremated on Wednesday afternoon.

“Sobra-sobrang devastated ang mga bata. Sobra, kasi huli nilang nakasama ang nanay nila, 2019,” she said.

Her family is mulling to file charges against the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) and the Bureau of Quarantine.

“Ayaw na naming may isa pang OFW na ganito ang mangyari. Nais naming magsampa ng kaukulang reklamo sa pamunuan,” Guia said.

(We don’t want the same thing to happen to another OFW. We want to file the appropriate charges against the agencies.)

OWWA Administrator Hans Cacdac visited Sagonoy’s burial to extend his condolences and apologies.

“We have a nurse looking over her. Meron nga siyang roommate kinausap na returning OFW din but for one reason or another, ‘yun nga, lumubha ‘yung kaniyang sitwasyon at umabot sa unfortunate situation na nasawi si Rachelle,” he said.

(We have a nurse looking after her. She also had a roommate but for one reason or another, her condition worsened and she passed away.)

“It’s very unfortunate, indeed. Hindi namin ginusto na masawi din si Rachelle, so I offered my apologies and condolences to the family,” he added.

Cacdac also said that the request for a transfer was not approved as hospitals in Cebu were already full.

“Hindi sya nalagay sa ospital. We were advised that puno ang mga medical facilities within Cebu City at the time and it was not advisable at the time to take her there dahil nga itong situation sa Cebu ng COVID surge,” he said.

OWWA assured that the family will receive aid.

Meanwhile, the Department of Health said it has ordered an investigation into the incident.—Joahna Lei Casilao/LDF, GMA News