Hero’s welcome eyed as remains of OFW killed in Slovakia arrive in PHL

The remains of Henry John Acorda, the Filipino who was beaten to death in Slovakia last month, arrived at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) on Tuesday morning, according to Sam Nielsen's report on Dobol B sa News TV.

Acorda's remains arrived on board a Slovak government Airbus aircraft past 10 a.m.

Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano and his wife, Taguig Mayor Lani Cayetano, as well as Overseas Workers Welfare Administration head Hans Leo Cacdac, welcomed Acorda's remains at NAIA together with some of the victim's relatives and friends.

Cayetano said a hero's welcome is being planned for Acorda, a resident of Taguig City. 

"Yun ang aming balita kasi unang-una mahal siya sa community. Pangalawa nabalitaan nung mga taga-Taguig 'yung heroism na ginawa niya," he said, adding if ever an OFW center will be established in Taguig, it will be named after Acorda.

Acorda's mother and two siblings were on board the same chartered flight as his remains.

Acorda, a 36-year-old financial analyst, died at a hospital in Bratislava on May 31, days after he was beaten by a Slovakian weightlifter after defending his female companions, a Filipina and a Polish, from harassment.

From the airport, the body will be brought to Arlington Memorial Chapels & Crematory on Araneta Avenue in Quezon City to prepare it for the wake.

Cayetano said from Arlington, Acorda's remains will be brought to Heritage Park in Taguig where the wake would be held.

Cayetano said Acorda's family will be given the full financial assistance by the government.

"Tuloy-tuloy kaming makikipag-usap sa pamilya kung paano pa kami makakatulong," he said.

Cayetano also said President Rodrigo Duterte's instruction was for concerned government agencies to give the "maximum" assistance to Acorda's family.

"Ang utos ng Pangulong Duterte ay 'yung maximum na puwedeng maitulong ng lahat ng ahensiya, so nagtutulong-tulong kaming lahat ngayon ng OWWA, ng DOLE at ng DFA para matugunan 'yung mga pangangailan sa kanyang lamay at libing," he said.

Following Acorda's death, thousands of Slovaks gathered to pay tribute to the Filipino. —KBK, GMA News