Slain OFW’s remains arrive from Slovakia

MANILA, Philippines — A center for overseas Filipino workers in Taguig City will be named after Henry John Acorda, an OFW who was fatally beaten up in Bratislava, Slovakia after protecting a Filipina who was being harassed by a local man last May 26.

Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano said this yesterday as the remains of Acorda arrived from Slovakia following his death on May 31 due to the serious injuries he suffered during the attack by suspect Juraj Hossu.

On its Facebook page, the Taguig City government honored Acorda in a post last June 10, being its resident from Barangay Ususan and whose family hails from Barangay Central Signal. The local government said they would give Acorda a welcome befitting a hero.

Cayetano said the OFW center would be named after Acorda once they had established one in Taguig because the late OFW must be emulated by fellow Filipinos.

“I personally will recommend naming after him the OFW center,” Cayetano, who is also from Taguig, said.

Cayetano said it was tragic to lose Acorda in such a way at the age of 36 but “his heroism makes us proud to be a Filipino” who would “risk our own lives just to defend others even in other countries.”

According to Cayetano, the family of Acorda will receive P220,000 in assistance from the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration and $8,000 to $10,000 from the Department of Foreign Affairs for his wake and burial, among other expenses.

Cayetano said he was certain there would be fundraising activities for Acorda’s family in Taguig.

Cayetano said they had to comfort and assist the family of Acorda, who had to deal with trauma as they saw the disturbing CCTV footage of Acorda being beaten up by the suspect, which the DFA chief noted could make people lose sleep once they watched it.

Acorda’s mother, Stella said she could not forgive her son’s killer.

The Commission on Human Rights said in an earlier statement that Acorda’s courage and sacrifice were not in vain as thousands of young Slovaks “have built upon his heroism and found their voice reviving and deepening discussions against violence and extremism in Slovakia.”

“Grateful for their solidarity, we hope that this will help improve the situation of all Filipinos in Slovakia and prevent similar tragedies from happening again,” the CHR said.

The DFA said the Airbus 319 aircraft from the Slovak Government Flying Service took off from Bratislava at around noon on Monday.

On board the aircraft were Philippine Ambassador to Vienna Ma. Cleofe Natividad, the mother, brother and sister of Acorda and a representative from the Slovak Ministry of Interior.