Dead OFW’s kin asked to receive her remains

CEBU, Philippines - The Department of Foreign Affairs is calling on the next of kin of a Cebuana who reportedly died of cardiac arrest in Lebanon recently and whose remains are still unclaimed.

DFA, through its Public Information Services Unit, advised the next-of-kin of Alma Faburada Mintalar to fill out a letter accepting her remains.

Mintalar, whose last known address was in Cebu, according to the DFA-PISU, died of cardiac arrest in Lebanon’s capital city, Beirut, last February 23.

Reportedly, the said Overseas Filipino Worker worked in Lebanon as a babysitter for almost three years and her contract was supposed to end last month.

Mintalar’s remains are still at the Beirut General Hospital.

DFA-PISU further said that the cost of the repatriation of Mintalar’s remains will be taken from her insurance policy.

Results from the post-mortem examination conducted on Mintalar’s body, DFA-PISU said, showed that the heart attack the OFW suffered might have been triggered by her excessive intake of the drug Actifed, reportedly against the advice of her doctor.

“The drug was meant to cure an infection in her respiratory tract. There were also no signs of physical violence or abuse,” according to DFA-PISU.

According to a website, Actifed, the combination of pseudoephedrine and triprolidine, is used to treat runny or stuffy nose, sneezing, itching, watery eyes, and sinus congestion caused by allergies, colds or flu.

The family is advised to coordinate with the Office of Migrant Workers’ Affairs at the DFA main building in Roxas Blvd., Pasay City or at any DFA Regional Consular Office, one of which is in Mandaue City, Cebu.

The family and relatives are also encouraged to get in touch with DFA-Cebu at (032) 520-5898 or DFA-OUMWA at (02) 834-4996.   (FREEMAN)