Villar to DFA: Explain OFW sent home with missing parts

MANILA, Philippines - Sen. Manny Villar called on the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) yesterday to explain why the repatriated remains of overseas Filipino worker (OFW) Romilyn Ibanez had missing body parts.

“For the family’s peace of mind and in the name of justice, I join the different non-government groups in calling on the (DFA) to reveal the forensic and police reports surrounding Romilyn’s gruesome death,” he said.

Villar noted that Ibanez’s body was missing a tongue and an eye. He also wanted to know why it took a year for the Philippine embassy in Saudi Arabia to repatriate Ibañez’s remains and why the DFA has not been forthcoming with any explanation as to the delay. 

Ibanez was found dead in September last year on the kitchen floor of her employer’s house in Al Khobar, Saudi Arabia. Based on medical records, she died due to acid ingestion and multiple stab wounds. A bottle of sulfuric acid was found near her body.

Last year, Ambassador Antonio Villamor discussed Ibanez’s case with Prince Mohammad bin Fahad bin Abdulaziz al Saud, emir of the Eastern province who assured him that the case would be resolved.

Last February, the Philippine embassy allegedly received copies of the police and forensic reports from the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs but no further details have been disclosed since then.

As this developed, Villar questioned the use of the DFA’s legal assistance fund and said he would like DFA Undersecretary Esteban Conejos to explain before the Senate how much of it was spent to ensure that justice was served in Ibanez’s case.

Villar also stressed the need for the DFA and Philippine Overseas Employment Agency (POEA) to explain whether charges were filed against the recruitment agencies in the Philippines and Saudi Arabia that conspired to bring Ibanez to Saudi Arabia.

“Romilyn’s contract did not specify her work as a domestic helper. She thought she was going to work in the private sector and not in a household. We owe it to her and to her grieving family for the truth to come out and proper charges to be filed against those who contributed to her demise,” he said.

Villar will file a resolution today to look into the procedures of repatriation and the system of giving assistance to OFWs who were murdered or put to death.