Remains of 3 OFWs who died in Kuwait fire arrive in PH

The remains of the three Filipino Overseas Workers (OFW) who perished in a dormitory  fire in Kuwait arrived in the Philippines on Monday.

According to Mark Salazar’s 24 Oras report, the bodies of victims Jesus Lopez, Edwin Petilla, and Jeffrey Catubay were welcomed by their respective families and government officials.

The grief-stricken wife of one of the victims had to be led out of the cargo area on a wheelchair.

“Ang OWWA [Overseas Workers Welfare Administration] meron alalay na ibibigay na bereavement and funeral and other benefits worth P220,000 and ang kompanya ay magbibigay din ng $10,000. Ang Kuwaiti government, $15,000 at inaasikaso pa natin ang insurance. Lahat ‘yan masasagot kaagad ‘yan,” said OWWA Administrator Arnell Ignacio.

(The OWWA will provide bereavement and funeral and other benefits worth P220,000 while their company will give $10,000. The Kuwaiti government will provide $15,000. And we are also attending to the insurance.)

Two other Filipinos remain in Kuwait for the serious injuries they sustained and are being monitored by the Philippine Embassy in Kuwait.

“One of them is already nasa ward, nailipat na nung isang araw. 'Yung isa pa is still in ICU, receiving the appropriate care and medical attention,” said Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) Spokesperson Toby Nebrida.

(One of them is already in the ward  while the other one is still in an intensive care unit, receiving the appropriate care and medical attention.) 

The three OFWs died from smoke inhalation. They were part of a group of Filipinos working in a Kuwaiti construction company.

Initial investigation pointed to a short circuit as the cause of the fire at the workers' dormitory.

Six Filipinos who survived the fire have chosen to remain in Kuwait. —Sundy Locus/RF, GMA Integrated News