Probe on OFW's death sought

A GROUP of overseas Filipino workers has asked the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) to immediately repatriate the remains of Jenny Alvarado, and at the same time conduct an investigation to determine the cause of death.

Alvarado reportedly died due to a coal suffocation while she was on duty in Kuwait.

"Samahan ng mga DH sa Gitnang Silangan (Sandigan) is calling on the DMW to urgently repatriate Jenny's remains, conduct an immediate investigation on her death, and bring justice to the family," the group said on Monday.

The group had also expressed rage over the death of another OFW in Kuwait, Dafnie Nacalaban, after she was killed by her employer last month.

"The Philippine government must address the root cause of forced migration," said Sandigan.

"Instead of continuously exporting the cheap labor of OFWs, the government should focus on creating national industries," added Sandigan.

"When there are decent jobs and livable wages in the country, Filipino migrants will no longer be forced to leave and endure abuse abroad," the group stressed.

Alvarado's case became complicated after it was revealed that her family in Montalban, Rizal, received the wrong remains which belong to Jenny's Nepalese colleague.

Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) chief Arnell Ignacio on Jan. 13 visited the family of Alvarado in Montalban to assure the family that the government is doing its best to address the problems.

"The DMW (Department of Migrant Workers) is on top of the situation and that Secretary [Hans Leo Cacdac] asked me to be here to address their concerns and we are giving them assurance that we will not let this pass by, if there's a need to be investigated, as ordered by the secretary," he told reporters in Filipino.

"We need to address their concerns because they are thinking that something happened, as we have thoroughly done in the past," Ignacio added.

The OWWA said they are fixing the clearance of repatriating the real remains of Alvarado in due time.