Bodies of 6 OFWs still to be repatriated from Saudi

MANILA, Philippines -  The bodies of six overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) who died in Saudi Arabia have been frozen for nearly a year in different morgues, a migrant workers’ group said yesterday.

Migrante-Middle East regional coordinator John Leonard Monterona said one of the bodies is that of Romilyn Eroy-Ibanez, 22, who died seven months ago. He said Ibanez’s remains are at the morgue of the King Fahad hospital in Al-Khobar.

On Sept. 2, 2010, Ibanez was reportedly rushed to the hospital after a staff of the Red Crescent found her at the kitchen of her employer's house, soaked in her own blood.

“Until now, we don't know what the status of her case is. Does the (Philippine) embassy already (have) the required police report? Who are the suspects? Is there a criminal charge already filed in court? These are among the questions until now left unanswered,” Monterona said.

Monterona said Ibanez’s family claimed the Philippine embassy in Saudi Arabia have not given them information on her case despite repeated requests.

“Thus, we can't avoid doubting that the embassy is trying to hide valuable information from the family and the public. We don’t want to think that the embassy is a party trying to cover up this case,” he said.

Aside from Ibanez, Migrante said the bodies of Eduardo Vidal Jr., Eduardo Mendoza, Rodrigo Lampa, Leonido Reyes, and Allan Custodio have yet to be repatriated.

According to Monterona, the Philippine embassy said the repatriation of Vidal, Mendoza, and Reyes’ remains is “under process” and officials are “fulfilling the formalities required. Lampa’s body, is being examined because he allegedly committed suicide, while the embassy could not give an update on Custodio’s body.