Lotis’ Family Belies Reports That Capitol Refuses To Help

They tell it as it is.

The family of the overseas Filipino worker who died in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia belied reports that the Office of the Governor did not lift a finger to help them in the repatriation of the body.

Norma Baron, aunt of the deceased OFW Lotis Yu, burst into tears while she narrated to the media last Monday the plight of their family and the feeling of being neglected and ignored before the governor had intervened in the repatriation process.

“Kung kinsa karon diha sa among atubangan moangkon na sila’y nagtabang, pasayloa mi…gaplano na gani nga maghimo mi og tarpulin nga naay pangalan ni Guv, di man mosugot si Guv, nga ibutang ang iyang ngalan nga siyay nagtabang, ” Baron said.

“Mao ni ang problema karon…ngano man ilang ipanghimakak na ang opisina ni gobernador maoy ni yakap namo. Kung wala ang opisina ni gobernador di masulbad ang tanan,” she said.

Baron said the family thought their situation was hopeless after allegedly getting cold treatment from concerned government agencies.

“Ang una na ni offer og tabang namo ang opisina sa gobernador kay si gobernador wala ma molitika. Si Guv. Ang iyang concern namo tawo mi na naghilak sa iyang opisina. Dili gani siya gusto na magpahimo mig tarpaulin para mag pasalamat,” a teary-eyed Baron said.

“Ang opisina ni Gov. Davide ang nagbukas sa pinto-an para makuha namo ang justisiya.”

She also thanked the media who gave them the chance to air their woes.

The family knew about Yu’s demise only on Dec. 27 through her husband Domingo.

After more than two weeks of being left cold in the dark and feeling hopeless, Yu’s family came to the Capitol on Jan. 19 to seek help.

Capitol officials, particularly the Office of the Governor immediately acted on the concerns of Yu’s family and mobilized staff and resources from the Provincial Social Welfare Development Office (PSWDO), to assist them at Department of Foreign Affairs Office Region 7.

PSWDO dispatched staff on the same day to accompany the family to the DFA 7 office to inquire all the necessary documents and expenses to bring home Yu’s body.

The PSWDO and the family agreed that Domingo, Lotis’ husband, will gather all necessary information, including cost and arrangements of repatriation, service provider, and then inform PSWDO of the results.

Within the week, the president of Lotis’ agency, Global Alliance Inc., surfaced and promised the family to shoulder the repatriation cost.

On Jan. 23, PSWDO social workers went to ABS-CBN dyAB program Bantay-bata to provide updates on the case.

“We are on top of the situation. But we don’t come out in the open and brag about what we are doing,” said Rocelyn Zosa, PSWDO officer-in-charge.

She said respecting the privacy of the family members who are still grieving the death of Lotis is paramount for PSWDO so they do their work in silence to avoid circus in the media.

The PSWDO head said they’ve learned their lessons from the case of a deceased OFW from Pinamungahan town where the family requested privacy.

Meanwhile, Baron complained that a lot of politicians are now calling them to give help.

Lotis’ daughter is even traumatized by the incessant calls and messages on her Facebook from politicians, she said.

“Daghan na ang nanawag, daghan nang nisakay, ngano mana’ng mga politiko sige naman og tawag. Ngano kaniadto wala man,” Baron said.

By Kelvin Canizares