Cebuana OFW dies in Kuwait

CEBU, Philippines - The mother of a Cebuana domestic helper who allegedly died of cardiac arrest in Kuwait last Monday is seeking the assistance of the Philippine embassy for the repatriation of the body of her daughter.

Kristine Ebarle is suspicious of the death of her daughter, Denise Coleen “Sugar” Ebarle, but said she will not question her death through any legal proceeding as long as her body will be sent home.

The elder Ebarle, in an interview with The FREEMAN, said she has inquired a few times at the Philippine Embassy regarding the delivery schedule of her daughter’s remains but was always told that an autopsy has to be conducted first.

“Whatever the result is, I’m willing to wave in taking any legal actions, basta lang mauli na unta iyang lawas. Mao ra g’yud na akong gusto unta,” Ebarle said. She also sought the help of the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) and the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) but was only told that they will follow up the case at the embassy.

While waiting for the body of her daughter, second among four siblings, Ebarle could not help but suspect a foul play on her death.

She suspected that her daughter’s employer, Marawan Anton Allam, in Hawally Al Salmiya, Block 9, Kuwait City was behind her death. She started working in Kuwait two years ago.

Ebarle said she received a threat through a phone call from Allam last December, few days after her daughter ran away because of alleged maltreatment. The younger Ebarle was supposed to end her two-year contract last March.

“She called me and said namroblema siya sa iya amo kay dili pa siya pakan-on, dili pa g’yud siya tagaan sa iya sweldo. Nag-ran away siya and stayed in the apartment of her Filipino friends. Then Allam also called me and said ‘I will see to it that you’re daughter will not go back home alive. Ang ako duda basin gi-sundan-sundan siya ni Allam og gi-hiloan ba ‘ron siya through her food,” she said.

She said that prior to Sugar’s death she already complained to her friends of a back ache and epilepsy. Sugar reportedly died on the way to the hospital because of cardiac arrest.

But Ebarle said her daughter has no history of any ailment. In fact, she was a very healthy girl, with no drinking and smoking habits.

Sugar left behind a husband and two small kids in Barangay Guadalupe, Cebu City.   (FREEMAN NEWS)