Cebuana OFW’s body home after 3 months

CEBU, Philippines - The remains of the Cebuana overseas Filipino worker who died in Riyadh in October last year finally arrived in Cebu yesterday.

OFW advocate Susan Ople, chairman of the Blas F. Ople Policy Center, said that the flow of information seemed to be the problem on why it took so long before the family of Lotis Yu Camocamo from Toledo City learned of her death in Saudi Arabia’s capital.    

“We serve as a connector. Kami yung tumutulay para magkatagpo ang pamilya and for the family to give Lotis a decent burial,” said Ople in a press conference yesterday.

Camocamo’s remains arrived at the Mactan-Cebu International Airport at around 6 p.m. yesterday.

“We were to fulfill a promise to the mother and children of Lotis Camocamo that we would bring her home to Toledo City. Our center will continue to assist the family in whatever way we can during this difficult time,” Ople said in a statement.

Ople, who is running for senator, emphasized that there is no politics behind their efforts to help in the OFW body’s repatriation.

Aside from Ople, John Bertiz, who is the owner of Camocamo’s employment agency Global Asia Alliance Consultancy Inc.,  was also instrumental in facilitating the return of Camocamo’s remains.

“When I learned about her death, I immediately sent our welfare staff to Saudi Arabia to assist Mr. Domingo Camocamo and to coordinate with our Philippine Embassy. We will continue to extend assistance to the family,” said Berliz.

The husband is also an OFW based in Saudi Arabia.

Ople said she will follow up on the death and burial benefits that must go to the bereaved family from the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration.

“The family approached us for help and that is all there is. I believe that the more people helping out the family, the faster the healing process would be,” added Ople, a former undersecretary of the Department of Labor and Employment.

Camocamo died on October 29 last year, but her death was known by her family only on December 27.

The family earlier relayed to the media that Camocamo reportedly died after falling off from the third floor of her employer’s house. But they said the autopsy showed several blows to Camocamo’s chest, face and head.  (FREEMAN)