Pinoy's kin get Turk's body instead

MANILA, Philippines - The government will act immediately on the reported repatriation of the remains of a Turk in place of the body of a Filipino overseas worker (OFW) who died in Saudi Arabia, Malacañang said yesterday.

Presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda said the mix-up is a “terrible, terrible misfortune.”

“(It’s too bad) that a mistake occurred when they already lost a loved one. We will ask the DOLE (Department of Labor and Employment) to assist them to make sure that the particular person is identified and delivered to the family,” Lacierda said in an interview over radio station dzRB.

He said DOLE will inquire from the airline and other appropriate agencies to determine the process of repatriating the remains of OFW Danneily Ubungen.

“It’s really a wonder why a mix-up of the remains will occur. We will ask that, we will ask DOLE to make the inquiries,” Lacierda said.

Philippine officials in Saudi Arabia had reportedly started the investigation into the mix-up.

The officials said that under Saudi law, it is the responsibility of the sponsor to ship home the remains of a foreign worker who died in the kingdom. 

Migrante Middle East said Ubungen died in Saudi Arabia last June along with three others when an acetylene tank exploded in their workshop.