MANILA (Mindanao Examiner / Feb. 10, 2013) – A Filipino migrants’ rights group, Migrante-Middle East (M-ME) said it was saddened by the death of a sick fellow overseas Filipino worker who was on his way home.
It said Reynaldo Ofracio, who was suffering from liver cancer, died in the plane. “We express our sympathy to the family, relatives and friends of our fellow OFW Reynaldo Santos Ofracio, who died on board a flight going home. We have known that he has been sick and suffering from cancer,” John Leonard Monterona, M-ME regional coordinator, said in a statement sent to the Mindanao Examiner.
Monterona, also the vice-chairperson of Migrante Sectoral Party of OFWs and Families, said there are quite a number of OFWs in same situation with that of Ofracio. “We have been a witness to fellow OFWs struggle, especially those who are old and sick, and undocumented,” he said, adding in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia alone there were about close to 12,000 undocumented OFWs.
Monterona also called on OWWA to provide assistance to the family of Ofracio specifically burial and financial assistance.
“Sixty to 70 percent of them are sick women and old. They’re those who have been undocumented for six to 10 years or even more. But could not come home due to the need to earn a living for their families back home,” Monterona said.
Monterona cited the case of OFW Virginia Gabilan, 47, a native of Iloilo and who is now confined at a Jeddah hospital for more than 3 months due to meningococcemia, an acute and potentially life-threatening infection of the bloodstream.
“OFW Gabilan sought a friend’s assistance who in turn endorses her to us. We arranged her hospital confinement and we are working her repatriation with the PH consulate in Jeddah. If she could get a medical certificate that she’s fit to travel then we are more than happy to see her home and reunited with her family,” Monterona said.
Monterona also cited the case of OFW Mateo Amaro, 67, who succumb to lung cancer and died in November last year.
“His remains still at morgue in a hospital here in Jeddah; Migrante-Jeddah were informed by the PH consulate that his remain will be repatriated this week,” Monterona said.
“The cases of OFWs Ofracio, Gabilan, and Amaro, are just few of the cases we have been attending. This prompted us to renew our call to the Aquino govt. and concerned Philippine agencies such as the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration and the Department of Foreign Affairs to consider deploying medical attaché or a medical team whose task will look into the medical needs of sick and old OFWs and assist for their eventual repatriation,” he added.
Monterona suggested that medical attaché and its team will be stationed in Philippine diplomatic posts and will provide on-site medical services and guidance, among others, to sick and old OFWs while waiting for their repatriation.
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