THE family of deceased overseas worker Lotis Camocamo hopes her remains can be brought home from Saudi Arabia this week.
Norma Baron, Camocamo’s cousin, said this is what they are looking forward to after talking with the woman’s husband, who also works in Riyadh, last Sunday.
“After my cousin’s story made it to the news, the employer suddenly surfaced and offered to shoulder the repatriation cost,” she said at the Capitol.
Baron and Camocamo’s mother, Zenaida Yu, met with Capitol social workers to finalize some documents and meet Gov. Hilario Davide III to give updates on their case.
The bereaved family, natives of Toledo City, first came to the Capitol last week asking for help to bring home Camocamo’s body .
Camocamo, who worked as a domestic helper in Riyadh, died on Oct. 29.
Her family only found out about her death in December. The family said they were given the runaround by government agencies they visited, including the Overseas Workers Welfare Association (OWWA) and Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA).
In a text message to reporters last Sunday, One Cebu gubernatorial bet Winston Garcia chided the office of the governor for “turning a deaf ear” to the family’s plea.
Baron yesterday defended Governor Davide, saying their cause wouldn’t have moved forward if it weren’t for his office.
“Ang opisina ra gyud intawn ni Governor ang nagpainom namo og tubig ug nagpakaon namo og paniudto (Only the office of the Governor offered us water and lunch),” she said.
Since last week, the Capitol has escorted the family to DFA, facilitated acquisition of important documents, and doing follow-up work.
Baron said that ever since their plight was publicized last week, many politicians have been calling about it.
Baron said she hopes the body of her cousin can be brought home as soon as possible so the issue can be put to rest and other people won’t take advantage of her family anymore.
Once Camocamo is buried, Baron said they will return to the Capitol to ask for legal assistance.
Lawyer Anika Fernandez, DFA regional director, said her office has yet to receive a formal report from the Philippine Embassy in Riyadh.
“The Embassy verbally conveyed that they could not give a specific date or estimate as the repatriation process will have to follow local procedures,” she said in a text message to Cebu Daily News.
Governor Davide, in a press conference, said the provincial government is willing to shoulder the repatriation cost estimated at P200,000.
This is on top of the burial assistance the Capitol initially offered to the family last week.
Davide said that while the employer has offered to pay for the repatriation, the Capitol is still willing to cover other costs.
“Whatever is lacking or, when the body arrives, we will take care of burial expenses through our program for bereaved families,” the governor said.