The remains of Mae Jill Juanillas, a 34-year-old Filipina nurse who died in a hit-and-run incident in Saudi Arabia, arrived in the Philippines on Valentine’s Day.
Her family, accompanied by representatives from the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW), received her casket at the Bicol International Airport before it was transported to her hometown in Nabua, Camarines Sur.
An investigation by the Migrant Workers Office (MWO) in Jeddah said the incident happened late at night on January 31, when Juanillas and two other Filipino nurses were walking home from Tabuk Park Mall.
The three were reportedly crossing a road in the Muruj Al Amir District when a speeding vehicle hit them.
Juanillas was rushed to King Khalid Civilian Hospital but later died due to severe injuries. Her two companions survived the crash and are currently recovering in the hospital.
The driver allegedly attempted to escape after the collision but was later arrested.
“[A]ng ibang mga motorista na nakakita sa insidente ay hinabol daw ang salarin hanggang sa siya ay nahuli. Ngayon ay nasa kulungan na ang salarin,” the MWO-Jeddah said in a social media post that also included photos from their visit to the injured victims.
Following a “compassionate visit,” DMW-Bicol told the Juanillas family that financial assistance and benefits are now being processed through the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA).
MWO-Jeddah also said it will continue to follow the case filed against the suspect.
“Nakatutok po ang MWO at OWWA sa kaso at mag-a-assist sa ikalulutas nito para mabigyan ng hustisya ang ating mga kababayan,” the office stated.
Juanillas graduated with a Nursing degree in 2012 from Camarines Sur Polytechnic Colleges (CSPC), which also expressed condolences to her family and described her as a committed healthcare worker.
