OFW in KSA 'commits suicide' amid death threats; wife smells foul play

An overseas Filipino worker in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia was found dead hanging in his workplace on Wednesday afternoon, days after receiving death threats allegedly from his foreign co-workers, the wife of the victim said.

Gilda Merced Dayanan, the wife of the victim Roger Dayanan, told GMA News she knew about the supposed suicide of her husband through Roger's Filipino friend and co-worker. 

But Gilda Merced said she did not believe Roger could commit suicide, saying they had a video call last Tuesday noon and their last conversation was the normal routine call, and that he did not act strangely.

“Tinawagan ko yung mobile phone niya (Roger) alas-dose (Wednesday) dahil tuwing alas dose ay magkatawagan kami. Ring lang ng ring ang cellphone nya, hindi nya sinagot. 

May number ako sa kasama niya na si Donato. Nag-text ako, sabi ko saan ba si Roger, bakit 'di nya sinagot tawag ko? Nag-text back si Donato at sinabi niyang nagbigti daw si Roger," Gilda said.

She said she believes there was foul play in the death of her husband. Roger had told her that a foreign co-worker, a certain Riyad, had threatened to kill him.

“Hindi po ako naniniwala na nagpakamatay ang asawa ko, may foul play 'yan sir. Sabi ng mister ko sa kin ang pangalan na Riyad na nagbanta sa kanya na papatayin sya” she told GMA News.

Last February, Gilda said Roger told her about the threat on his life from his co-workers in the farm where they were working.

Roger supposedly discovered an anomaly and the illegal activities of his co-workers. After that, he had been getting threats, and his co-workers had been stalking him and monitoring his activities, even his phone calls were monitored, Gilda said.

Also, she said, Roger had sought the assistance of the Kaagapay ng Bawat OFW Advocates group so he would be rescued from the farm.

Kaapgapay immediately referred the matter to the Assistance to Nationals office of the Philippine Consulate  in Jeddah.

But Roger "committed suicide" before the recuse could be undertaken.

Vice Consul Lemuel Lopez, head of the Assistance to Nationals of consulate, said they have already informed Saudi authorities and Roger's employer on the matter.

“We are suggesting to the family to have an autopsy conducted kasi ang proseso ng awtopsiya sa Saudi ay hindi automatic most especially sa mga suspicious deaths so we have to ask the ministry of foreign affairs," Lopez said, adding that an investigation should be done to determine if there was foul play in the supposed suicide of the victim. —Ronaldo Concha/LBG, GMA News