Daughter seeks justice for Pinay helper of ex-prime minister's son in Mongolia

A teenage girl is seeking justice for her mother who died mysteriously in November last year: Filipina domestic helper Terril Atienza, who was employed by the son of a former prime minister of Mongolia. In a press conference at the headquarters of Migrante International in Quezon City on Wednesday, Nyrriel Atienza, 16, said: “Nawalan po kami ng ina, nawalan po yung papa ko ng katuwang. Maliit pa po yung mga kapatid ko kaya lalaki sila nang walang ina." "Itong munting pangarap niya na makaahon kami sa buhay nasira po. Ngayon ang tangi na lang po naming hangad para sa kanya ay yung hustisya po sa pagkamatay niya,”  Nyrriel said. According to a report distributed by Migrante during the press conference, Terril, 34, was said to have committed suicide by taking an overdose of sleeping pills in Mongolia in November last year. Migrante said Terril's last employer was Sergelen Davaakhu, an honorary consul of Austria and the son of a former prime minister of Mongolia. Migrante said Terril's body was repatriated to the Philippines on December 9 last year and an autopsy conducted by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) revealed that her heart was missing. Parts of her brain, liver and stomach were either missing or not in the correct position. Pieces of rags were also found inside her body. Nyrriel recounted: “Noong dumating po yung bangkay ni mama ng December 9 (2011), nakita po namin sa punerarya na puro pasa tapos puro po sugat at… may mga… may mga… parang hawak po ng kamay sa katawan niya. Napag-alaman po namin na wala po yung buong puso niya.” Undocumented worker Terril was the wife of electrician and now driver Nilo Atienza, and a mother to four children.   Migrante reported that Terril was a dental assistant in the Philippines but was not earning enough and decided to leave on a tourist visa in January 2010 to work as a domestic helper in Singapore. A year and a half later, Terril informed her family about her plan to return to the Philippines, saying that she had already bought a plane ticket. However, her agency in Singapore said she needed to complete her two-year contract and that she would be transferred to Mongolia in three days. Migrante said in Mongolia, Terril's employer Davaakhu allegedly did not allow the use of mobile phones or laptops to communicate with her family. According to her family in the Philippines, in four months, Terril managed to send only $184.37 to them. Rowdy parties? Migrante claimed that Terril maintained constant communication with Shayne Alingcao, the domestic helper previously assigned to her job. Migrante said Terril allegedly told Alingcao about the supposedly rowdy parties in her employer's home. On August 30 last year, Terril reportedly told Alingcao about her plan to go home to the Philippines on December 9 as she allegedly was not receiving the proper salary.   On November 13, Terril spoke with Nyrriel for the last time, telling her daughter that she was going home and that “as of the moment, I’m fine.” On November 23, Nyrriel said her mother's friend Karen Cruz called her up to say that she was worried about Terril whom she was supposed to meet on November 19. The employer allegedly told Cruz that Terril was not feeling well at that time. They later learned that on November 21, Terril's agency in Singapore reportedly received an email from her employer, saying that Terril had died and that her body was already in a morgue.   According to the agency, Terril allegedly committed suicide by taking an overdose of sleeping pills. The initial autopsy of the National Institute for Forensic Science (NIFS) in Mongolia declared that Terril died of “severe intoxication."   The NIFS has yet to release its final autopsy report.   Seeking justice The family of Terril does not believe she committed suicide and wants to seek justice. During Wednesday's press conference, the family said it has contacted several government offices, including the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), and claimed "lack of support" for Terril's case.   GMA News Online contacted the DFA for comment about the issue but the agency has yet to reply.   Those present during the press conference included Garry Martinez, chairperson of Migrante International, and actors Jodi Sta. Maria and Allen Dizon. Both actors are starring in the upcoming movie “Migrante (The Filipino Diaspora)” about the lives of overseas Filipino workers (OFW). The movie is directed by Joel Lamangan. Both Sta. Maria and Dizon urged the government to help resolve the mystery behind Terril's death and seek justice for her.   Meanwhile, Martinez advised Filipinos planning to work abroad: “Una, maging handa sa lahat nang haharapin. Sinasabi nga lagi namin kung nagdesisyon ka mag abroad ang una mong gawin ay paalam mo sa pamilya mo saan ka pupunta, magiwan ka ng mga dokumento, Xerox copy ng passport, kontrata, iwanan sa pamilya o sa simbahan dapat dalawang kopya.” - VVP, GMA News