44 TO ARRIVE FRIDAY

Bello says remains of all dead OFWs to be repatriated

Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III on Thursday assured the relatives of deceased overseas Filipino workers (OFW) that the government will repatriate their loved ones' remains.

"I would like to inform the next of kin, the relatives of our dead OFWs that at all costs we will repatriate all of them," Bello said at the Laging Handa briefing.

"Hindi man magawa namin paminsanan, pero titiyakin namin na maiuuwi natin sila lahat," he said, adding that the relatives will receive bereavement and insurance benefits.

He said the remains of 44 OFWs from Saudi Arabia will arrive in the Philippines on Friday. He said 19 of them died of COVID-19 and the other 25 of "natural causes."

Another 44 will arrive on Monday, he said.

"We will do that until we have repatriated all our dead OFWs," Bello said.

Asked about protocol, the official said the remains of OFWs who died of COVID-19 will immediately be taken to the crematorium. For those who died of other causes, relatives can either get their remains and bury them within 24 hours, or agree to have them cremated, he said.

Saudi Arabia earlier gave the Philippines until July 4 to bring home the remains of 274 OFWs, including more than a hundred who died of COVID-19, Bello said last week.

Twenty-three of the OFWs who died of COVID-19 have already been buried by the Saudi government and four who died of other causes have already been sent back home by their relatives, he said.

But Bello reportedly said the deadline was extended and that the repatriation is being delayed due to the pending release of requirements.—AOL, GMA News