Bu-lat-lat (boo-lat-lat) verb: to search, probe, investigate, inquire; to unearth facts Volume 3, Number 14 May 11 - 17, 2003 Quezon City, Philippines |
Migrant
Watch Under
the Macapagal-Arroyo administration Bulatlat.com
Domestic helpers Juanita Lajot and Levie Argana Yoo: Victims of mysterious deaths
Migrante International revealed that five of the cases involve domestic helpers
who allegedly jumped off from apartment or house balconies. The other
cases involve a seaman who reportedly jumped overboard and a boiler technician
who reportedly hanged himself. In a press conference late last week, Migrante International presented two recent cases of the mysterious deaths.
Foul
play
Asuncion
de Castro, Juanita’s sister, said the victim even called last December to say
she couldn’t come home for vacation because she was saving money to build a
house here. “Marami pa siyang plano at gusto niyang umuwi sa susunod
na bakasyon” (She still had a lot of plans and looked forward to coming
home on her next vacation). When
Juanita’s body was brought home, the family asked the National Bureau of
Investigation (NBI) to conduct an autopsy.
Two stab wounds were found in her back.
The NBI report says the death was caused by multiple traumatic injuries. The
NBI also noted that other internal organs had been congested and embalmed
already and that the stomach was almost empty. Juanita, a native of Ipil, Zamboanga del Sur, regularly sent money for her 85-year old mother’s medical and daily needs and she helped her widowed sister who has 11 children. Domestic violence The
family of Levie Argana Yoo, 32 years old, also doubt she jumped to her death
from her apartment’s 10th floor balcony. Instead, they believe Levie’s
husband may have pushed her after a heated fight. Merly,
Levie’s sister, said Levie was a victim of domestic violence adding she even
sent pictures of herself to show the bruises she got from her husband. Esther,
also Levie’s sister who lives in South Korea, said the victim’s husband
informed her of her sister’s death. Esther immediately went to Levie’s
apartment and found the place in disarray and bloodstains were also evident. The
other mysterious death cases raised by Migrante International include that of
domestic helpers Magdalina Martinez, Maricon Gatapia and Luzviminda Igar Agtang. Tito
Gatapia, Maricon’s father, said the agency sent her as a tourist.
The
cause of Luzviminda’s death in Singapore last August 12 is also unknown. Maita
Santiago, secretary general of Migrante International called on the Department
of Foreign Affairs and the Macapagal-Arroyo administration to exert all means to
attain justice for OFW victims. “The
continuing uncertainty surrounding the death of their relatives abroad remains a
harsh blow for families left behind and in effect, deals them a double
whammy,” said Santiago. “OFWs, especially domestic helpers, are
often in very vulnerable situations abroad. Isolated and kept in their
employer’s home 24 hours a day, domestic helpers are virtual prisoners.” Inutility Juanita’s
sister said they already asked the assistance of the Overseas Workers Welfare
Administration (OWWA). “Tatawagan
daw nila kami, pero hanggang ngayon wala
pa” (They said they will call us, until now we have not heard from them),
lamented Asuncion. Asuncion
said OWWA only gave them P15,000 for Juanita’s burial. Gary
Martinez, chair of a group of Filipino workers in Korea Kasama Ko, lambasted the
Philippine Embassy in South Korea. “Hindi
man lang alam ng embahada na namatay na at na-cremate na ang bangkay ni Levie”
(The embassy did not even know anything about Levie’s death). Martinez said that the Macapagal-Arroyo government must investigate the “alarming trend of mysterious deaths” among the migrant Filipino workers and must exhaust “all means to protect the country’s new heroes.” Bulatlat.com We want to know what you think of this article.
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