THE family of Marjorette Garcia, the overseas Filipino worker who died in Saudi Arabia, wants her remains to be autopsied and be brought back to the Philippines as soon as possible.
In an interview with CNN Philippines, Rits Parungao, shared how they lost communication with Garcia last month.
“Last ko pong nakausap kapatid ko September 14 po. Pagdating ng 15 po wala na kaming contact,” said Parungao.
After three days of having no communication with the OFW, the family then started asking her friends on social media even those who are working near her area.
“September 24 nagpunta po kami sa agency sabi ko pakihanap ang kapatid ko kasi mag two-weeks na wala kaming balita. Pagdating ng September 27, ang sabi sa amin, tinawagan kami nasa morgue na kapatid ko,” she recalled.
“Na-shock po ako, hindi po ako makapaniwala kasi noong nag-usap kami wala kaming problema, masaya po siya. Iyak na ko ng iyak,” added Parungao.
The agency told the family of Garcia that she was “accidentally stabbed”.
“Nag-ask po ako ng report sa POLO (Philippine Overseas Labour Office) sa Saudi. Ang sabi nasaksak daw pero wala na silang sinabi pang iba,” she added.
The family now seeks justice and wants more answers surrounding the death of their relative.
“Gusto ko po paimbestigahan ang nangyari sa kapatid ko kasi di ko masabi kung ano talagang nangyari sa kanya, gusto ko rin po ma-autopsy ang bangkay niya,” she said.
Marjorie was the third among seven siblings according to Parungao. She went to Saudi Arabia in 2021 as an OFW to provide for her two children.
The OFW was supposed to go back to the Philippines by the end of October after her contract ends.
“We are working in coordination with the Philippine Embassy as well as local police authorities in an ongoing investigation into the circumstances behind OFW Marjorette’s death,” the Department of Migrant Workers said in a statement.
The DMW confirmed Garcia’s death on Monday. The agency added that it is working with the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration in repatriating her remains.
Garcia was deployed in 2021 and worked as a domestic worker in Saudi Arabia.
Meanwhile, the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) confirms the death of Saudi-based overseas Filipino worker (OFW) Marjorette Garcia, who was deployed as a domestic worker in 2021.
The DMW through its Migrant Workers Office in Al-Khobar Saudi Arabia (MWO-Al Khobar) and the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) are working in coordination with the Philippine Embassy as well as local police authorities in an ongoing investigation into the circumstances behind OFW Marjorette’s death.
Both MWO-Al Khobar and OWWA are coordinating arrangements as well with OFW Marjorette’s family for the return of her remains at the soonest possible time.
The DMW extends its deepest condolences to the family and loved ones of OFW Marjorette. We assure them of our continuing support during their time of grief and in the ongoing investigation.
