A senior official from the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) revealed on Tuesday that the remains of a foreign national were mistakenly sent to the Philippines instead of those of Jenny Alvarado, an overseas Filipino worker (OFW) who died of coal suffocation in Kuwait.
DFA Undersecretary Eduardo de Vega disclosed in a GMA News report that the body repatriated was identified as a victim from Nepal, not Alvarado. The repatriation process, which was overseen by the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW), prompted DMW Secretary Hans Cacdac to issue an apology for the error.
In Rizal, Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) Administrator Arnell Ignacio visited Alvarado’s grieving family, assuring them that the government is working to bring her remains home.
“This OFW was among those who died of coal suffocation after inhaling toxic smoke from a heating system at her workplace in Kuwait on January 2,” OWWA said.
The domestic helpers’ group Samahan ng mga DH sa Gitnang Silangan has called on the DMW to expedite the repatriation and investigate the circumstances surrounding Alvarado’s death.
The family reportedly discovered the mix-up on January 10, when the remains delivered by government officials were found to belong to someone else. Further updates from the DMW are awaited.
