Press Release
June 1, 2009

OFW who fell in boiling asphalt in ME finally laid to rest
AFTER A SIX-MONTH WAIT FOR HIS REMAINS

The Filipino migrant worker who was buried alive in sand mixed with boiling asphalt and whose remains stalled in Saudi Arabia for half a year, was laid to rest at last in his hometown in Misamis Occidental today (June 1), Sen. Manny Villar said.

"For now, we are relieved that Pepito found his resting place in the country after six months in limbo in the Middle East where he met the unfortunate accident while on duty," the Nacionalista Party president said.

The overseas Filipino worker (OFW), Emy Pepito, 29, left for Jeddah on Nov. 8, 2006 and perished while working on a building's foundation as a stone mason on Nov. 12 last year. He was brought to a hospital and was declared dead on arrival, along with his dreams of providing for a better future for his mother and nieces. He was buried at the Aguada Cemetery in Aguada, Ozamiz City.

Pepito's remains arrived in Manila on May 25 via Saudia Airlines flight 872, after Migrante International's persistent follow-ups to bring the OFW home. The migrant workers' alliance earlier held a "wake" in front of the Department of Foreign Affairs with a mock coffin.

Villar gave burial assistance to the Pepito family through the OFW's sister Charito Pepito-Villanueva, who sought the senator's help. The Overseas Workers Welfare Administration shouldered the rest of the funeral expenses.

The OFW's mother Elizabeth Pepito recalled that a day before his son's death, he called her up to say that he was going home to attend the graduation ceremony of his nieces to give their gifts. The tragic news of Pepito's death was relayed by his friend who was also working in Saudi Arabia.

Villar has initiated a Sagip-OFW helpline dedicated to beleaguered OFWs to give them a venue to air their predicament, while batting for conducive economic conditions in the country to expand opportunities as a long-term solution.

The OFW's sister said, "Malaking bagay ang tulong ni Senador Villar sa aming pamilya habang hinaharap namin ang mga problemang ito."

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