By JANESS ANN J. ELLAO
Bulatlat.com
MANILA — Labor officials have confirmed the death of a 44 year old overseas Filipino worker whose body was found in one of the restrooms of Bahay Kalinga, a shelter in Saudi Arabia for women OFWs in distress, which is being managed by the Philippine embassy.
“We can’t divulge her name as the family in the Philippines is yet to be informed,” John Monterona, Migrante Middle East regional coordinator, said, “She was sick and the possible cause of her death is cardiac arrest.”
Monterona, in a statement, said, he recently had a chance of talking to a Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO) official in Riyadh who confirmed this report. “But we want this incident investigated,” he said.
He added that Migrante Middle East has been “receiving reports from OFWs in distress” that “they were not given proper medication” inside Bahay Kalingay even if they are sick. “No medicines were given (to them) despite their plea to embassy and POLO-OWWA officials.” Bahay Kalinga shelter about 120 OFWs, including seven women with children. These OFWs have run away from their employers because of abuse and maltreatment.
“The confirmation that there were OFWs dying inside the BK is also proof that our POLO-OWWA officials in Riyadh are not taking care of our distressed and sick women OFWs,” Monterona said, adding that these “inept officials must be sacked from their jobs.” 
