OWWA clarifies cadaver mixup

The Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) said it regrets the unfortunate turns of events that caused a lot of undue heartaches and misconceptions of concerned individuals these past few days.

OWWA also issued a clarification regarding the incident that caused the erroneous shipment from Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia of the cadavers of OFWs Felix Reynard Llorando of Legaspi City to Danao City and Abel Monterola of Danao City to Legaspi City.

"Since both OFWs Llorando and Monterola were victims of a homicide case in KSA the necessary preparations relative to the shipment of the cadavers were done at the job-site without any OWWA participation. OWWA’s participation was to assure receipt of the cadavers in Regions V and VII and processing of attendant qualified benefits," OWWA Administrator Marianito Roque said.

OWWA officers from Regions V and Region VII attended to the reception of the sealed boxes containing the caskets of deceased OFWs Llorando and Monterola at the local airports.

It was only during the viewing of the cadavers at the funeral homes that the faux pas was discovered to the dismay of the relatives and chagrin of OWWA officials.

With the discovery, appropriate steps had been taken and the respective cadavers are expected shipped to their proper destinations and recipients.

"With regards to the death of OFW Mailene Barroga in Kuwait, investigations are still ongoing.

Kuwait police investigators are still looking into the angle of third party involvement.

Meanwhile, all forthcoming benefits and assistance will be extended to the next of kin as soon as the investigations are formally concluded and the repatriation process is initiated, Roque added.