Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, June 11) – Foreign Affairs Secretary Teddy Locsin, Jr. confirmed Thursday that a 28-year-old female mariner committed suicide while in ship after her supposed flight back to the Philippines was suspended.
“It is my sad duty to report that a 28-year old female mariner committed suicide in her cabin in the ship where she’s had to stay because repatriation flights back to the Philippines have been suspended again,” said Locsin on Twitter.
“I know our quarantine facilities are jam-packed; just don’t know why,” Locsin added.
Locsin identified the overseas Filipino worker as Mariah Jocson, who was a crew member of the Harmony of the Seas, where the crew members are “detained” while awaiting for the “repeatedly rescinded repatriation” of flights back to the country.
The ship was docked at Bridgetown Port in Barbados at the time.
This is the second case of suicide among OFWs during the pandemic. The first was an OFW in Lebanon last May.
“We are tartly reminded that Filipino resilience is no excuse to stretch them to breaking point. Di sila goma; tao sila (They are not rubber bands; they are simply humans),” said Locsin.
If you are in need of mental health support, please call the 24/7 National Center for Mental Health Crisis Hotline at (0917) 899-8727 or (02)7-989-8727 or 1553 (Landline-to-landline only).
It is my sad duty to report that a 28-year old female mariner committed suicide in her cabin in the ship where she's had to stay because repatriation flights back to the Philippines have been suspended again. I know our quarantine facilities are jam-packed; just don't know why.
— Teddy Locsin Jr. (@teddyboylocsin) June 11, 2020
