OWWA: 264 OFW remains, including 170 COVID cases, repatriated since start of pandemic

At least 264 remains of overseas Filipino workers  (OFWs) have been repatriated since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA).

Interviewed on Unang Hirit on Wednesday, OWWA Administrator Hans Leo Cacdac said 170 of the repatriated remains were COVID-19 cases.

“Apat na mass repatriation efforts ang naisagawa at 264 human remains na ang nakauwi. Of the 264, merong 170 COVID cases dito,” Cacdac said.

“Mahalagang banggitin ito kasi itong 170 COVID cases ay malaki ang threat na ilibing sila doon. Kaya buti naiuwi sila,” he added.

Health protocols recommend immediate cremation of remains of persons with COVID-19. However, some governments in the Middle East do not allow this as cremation is discouraged in Islam.

Before the COVID-19 pandemic, Cacdac said it would only take a month to bring home the remains of a deceased OFW. He said restrictions implemented by various countries in light of COVID-19 had delayed the process.

OFW Patricio Lacanilao died of heart attack in Saudi Arabia three months ago but his remains is still stuck in a freezer, his daughter Lheny Palaganas said in the same program.

"Locally, merong proseso lang. ‘Yung tinatawag na no objection certificate, para mai-proseso ng ating embahada 'yung pag-uwi doon sa Riyadh, ang pag-uwi ng human remains ng kanyang ama,” Cacdac said.

“Kung napagdaanan na ang prosesong ito, koordinasyon na lamang ng ating embahada at ng Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO) doon sa kanyang employer para maisaayos na 'yung pagpapauwi,” he added.

According to Palaganas, her father's employer has not been cooperative.

Cacdac said OWWA will coordinate with the Saudi Arabia government to address the matter and noted that the agency had also encountered the same problem in previous cases. --KBK, GMA News