Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, June 24) — The appeals of families of overseas Filipino workers who died of COVID-19 in Saudi Arabia will be discussed by Philippine officials, Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III said on Wednesday.
In a Senate inquiry, the labor official said he would discuss with the Inter-Agency Task Force on Thursday the plea of families to repatriate the remains of their loved ones.
“The initial decision is to bury [in Saudi Araabia] those who died of COVID, pero malakas ang panawagan ng pamilya na iuwi pa rin sila,” he said.
[Translation: The initial decision is to bury those who died of COVID, but there is a resounding appeal from the families to bring home the remains.]
In an open letter, the families pleaded to President Rodrigo Duterte and the IATF to allow the bodies of their relatives — often hailed as “modern day heroes” — to be brought home.
There are 282 OFWs who died in Saudi Arabia, with 108 of them losing their lives to COVID-19. Bello previously said that the IATF has decided to allow those who died from COVID-19 to be buried in the Gulf State, while the others who died of natural causes will be repatriated to the Philippines using three airplanes.
The Labor Secretary said he will discuss with the IATF, which includes health experts, if it is safe to bring home those who died of an infectious disease.
Health Undersecretary Mario Villaverde noted that based on the requirements of international health regulations, those who die due to infectious disease — such as COVID-19 — the remains should be cremated.
However, cremation is prohibited in the Muslim tradition. In Saudi Arabia, bodies are usually buried within 24 hours of death in observance of the Islamic custom.
