Family of deceased OFW receives wrong cadaver from Kuwait

A top official from the Department of Foreign Affairs confirmed Tuesday that remains of a different individual were repatriated to the Philippines instead of those of the deceased overseas Filipino worker (OFW) who died of coal suffocation in Kuwait. 

Instead of the body of Kuwait OFW Jenny Alvarado, DFA Undersecretary Eduardo de Vega told GMA News Online that the cadaver of a foreigner was brought home.

“Tilang sa ibang [it seems it was another] victim, from Nepal,” De Vega said.

The DFA official also said that it was the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) that was in charge of the repatriation. De Vega added that DMW Secretary Hans Cacdac has already apologized for the incident.

GMA News Online has sought comment from the DMW and will update this story once the agency responds.

Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) administrator Arnell Ignacio, meanwhile, visited Alvarado's bereaved family in Rizal on Monday and told them that the government will do everything to repatriate the body of their loved one.

“Ang OFW na ito ay isa sa mga nasawi dahil sa coal suffocation matapos malason sa usok mula sa heating system sa kanyang pinagtatrabahuan sa Kuwait noong Enero 2,” the OWWA said.

(This OFW was one of the fatalities due to coal suffocation after being poisoned from the smoke coming from the heating system at their workplace in Kuwait on January 2.)

The Samahan ng mga DH (domestic helpers) sa Gitnang Silangan also urged the DMW to immediately bring home the remains of Alvarado and conduct an investigation into her death.

“When the DMW and OWWA delivered her remains to her family on January 10, the family discovered that the government officials brought the wrong person,” the group said.

--VAL, GMA Integrated News