Lawmakers call for inquiry into mistaken repatriation of OFW remains

Lawmakers have called for a congressional investigation into the mistaken repatriation of the remains of overseas Filipino worker Jenny Alvarado, urging the House Committee on Overseas Workers Affairs to conduct an inquiry.

House Deputy Minority Leader France Castro and other lawmakers filed House Resolution 2213 to urge an inquiry after Alvarado's death on January 2 in Kuwait.

Alvarado's family received her remains on January 10, only to discover they were not hers; her actual remains arrived on January 16.

Gabriela Party List Representative Arlene Brosas noted that no autopsy was conducted as initially claimed by Alvarado’s employer and instead, bruises were found on Alvarado's body.

The family is seeking a second autopsy by a third party due to delays in the National Bureau of Investigation's results and suspicion of foul play.

Despite demands for an explanation, representatives from the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) and the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) failed to provide immediate clarification, while DMW Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac said his department is planning to file cases against the service provider behind the mix-up.

Alvarado, who had worked in Kuwait for at least eight years, was laid to rest on January 26.