Kin of Pinoy fatalities in Yemen bombing receive P600 K

MANILA, Philippines - The families of two Filipina nurses killed in the suicide bombing in Yemen received $15,0000 or over P600,000 in insurance benefits.

Overseas Workers Welfare Administration chief Carmelita Dimzon said the families of Hazel Pueblos and Edward Anthony de Guzman went to the OWWA office yesterday to receive the money.

She said the newly amended Migrant Workers Act that provides insurance benefits for overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) did not cover the five other fatalities.

“They were deployed long ago,” she said.

Dimzon said the remains of the seven Filipinos are scheduled to arrive home this week.

“The Defense Ministry of Yemen will be shouldering the cost of repatriation and they assured us that the bodies of the seven OFWs will be arriving within the week,” she said.

At least 20 other Filipinos were hurt in the bombing and are now in stable condition.

The government banned the deployment of Filipino workers to Yemen following the suicide bombing.

Labor secretary Rosalinda Baldoz said the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration governing board approved the re-imposition of the ban during an emergency meeting.

“It is not safe for OFWs to go to Yemen and work there, or even visit, considering the present circumstances,” she said.

Baldoz said the government is sending a special team to Yemen to facilitate the voluntary repatriation of an estimated 2,000 Filipino workers amid the escalating violence there.             

She said a team from the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) and the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) will be flying to Yemen in the next few days.