The Philippine government is investigating the alleged switching of the remains of Jenny Alvarado, a Filipina worker who died in Kuwait on January 2.
Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) Secretary Hans Cacdac said in a Phil Star Global report that the labor attaché and legal representatives in Kuwait have been directed to look into the incident. The remains of Alvarado are scheduled to arrive in Manila tomorrow after immediate repatriation efforts were ordered.
Cacdac also extended his apologies to Alvarado’s family during a meeting and assured them of the government’s support.
The mix-up occurred when Alvarado’s body was mistakenly switched with that of a Nepali worker. The error became apparent when her husband and five children, who were waiting to lay her to rest in Cavite, discovered the wrong remains inside the casket.
Gabriela party-list Representative Arlene Brosas expressed outrage, holding the DMW and the Philippine embassy in Kuwait accountable for the oversight. “This negligence is an insult to the dignity of OFWs and their families. We demand answers,” Brosas stated, adding that the incident caused unnecessary distress to the grieving family.
Brosas also called for clarity on the circumstances of Alvarado’s death, which her Kuwaiti employer attributed to suffocation. “We need to ensure there was no foul play,” she said. “Our OFWs deserve dignity even in death.”
