one of the three overseas Filipino workers (OFW) who perished in a fire in Kuwait was on a video call with his partner as the blaze consumed the building.
Ronalyn Villarmino recounted the harrowing final moments of her partner, Edwin Petilla, during a report by JP Soriano on “24 Oras.” She tearfully shared, “Mommy, mommy nasusunog yung building namin. Tapos kumukuha na sila ng mga gamit, tapos lumabas sila ng kwarto nila, tapos doon na po nagsimula ng sigawan. Naririnig ko po yung sigawan, yung mommy di na ako makahinga.” Ronalyn added, “Nawala na sila sa linya naririnig ko an lang yung hikahos.”
Ronalyn, who is pregnant with their first child, expressed her grief, “Masakit kasi may pangarap kami tapos biglang ganito. Masaya pa siya na gusto niyang makita baby niya. Yung gabi na bago siya matulog sabi niya Mommy mahal na mahal kita, I love you, ingatan mo si baby ah.”
Other OFWs managed to escape the fire through the rooftop. Mario Bruce, another OFW, described the chaos, “Pagbukas ng door namin sa kwarto, tinawag ko mga kasama ko, amoy sunog. Sa 6th floor. Wala ng ilaw.” He recounted his desperate search for a way out, “Pagbalik ko wala na yung kasama ko. Hindi ko alam kung saan sila nagpunta, makapal yung usok, maitim, ang lakas ng ihip. Kabadong-kabado na ako. Di ko alam kung saan pupunta ako.”
Bruce eventually found a way to the rooftop and, along with other survivors, stayed there for two hours before being evacuated. The survivors are now in good condition, though two OFWs remain in the ICU, being monitored by the Department of Migrant Workers.
The repatriation process for the remains of the three OFWs has begun, according to Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) administrator Arnel Ignacio. Kuwaiti authorities have detained three individuals on suspicion of manslaughter in connection with the fire, which claimed at least 49 lives and injured many others, mostly due to smoke inhalation.
