Mother of dead OFW seeks DILG help after DOLE ‘snub’

The mother of an overseas Filipino worker sought yesterday the assistance of the Department of Interior and Local Government-Special Task Force (DILG-STF) to check the plight of her daughter reported to have died in Dubai in United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Milagros Sabado, who came directly from Barangay Bangar, Victoria, Tarlac, personally met with DILG-STF director Chief Inspector Nelson Yabut to help her trace her 27-year old daughter Eugenia Sabado, who reportedly died last Nov. 22 in Dubai.

"Gusto ko lang malaman kung ano na ang nangyari sa anak ko. Umaasa akong matutulungan ako ng DILG," (All I want to know is what happened to her and I’m hopeful that the DILG can help me), Sabado told Yabut.

According to Mendoza, the younger Sabado was found dead inside her quarters at the house of her employer Fatima Al Hassan with registered address at P.O. Box 6762 Dubai, UAE.

The OFW had been working as a domestic helper to the Al Hassan family for almost 10 years.

Sabado claimed to have learned of her daughter’s alleged death from her niece Anita Mendoza who phoned her a day after Eugenia’s death.

Mendoza, a close cousin of the younger Sabado, is also an OFW in Abu Dhabi who constantly called her daughter.

However, the elder Sabado recalled that last Nov. 3 Eugenia called her up and told her that she was planning to go home because of "unsatisfactory treatment" from her employers.

At the same, the elder Sabado lambasted the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) for giving them the "run-around" when she reported her daughter’s case last week. This prompted her to report the case to the DILG.

Yabut said he would coordinate with the consular division of the DFA to verify the case of the younger Sabado.