Pinay's death stirs concern among OFWs in Rome

Italian and Philippine authorities have been urged to thoroughly look into the death of a Filipino domestic helper in Rome.

In a press statement, the groups Migrante International-Europe and Umangat with concerned Filipinos in Rome are calling for an impartial and thorough probe into the circumstances of death of Jesusa Mendelebar.

Mendelebar, 42, of Quezon City, allegedly drowned in her employers’ swimming pool at 11:45 a.m. on August 10. News reports stated that Mendelebar was wearing a bathing suit when her body was discovered.

Italian police ruled out foul play, but Mendelebar's close friends doubted its conclusion.

According to Umangat spokesperson Ann Brusola, friends of Mendelebar have said that the victim could not have died accidentally because she was a good swimmer.

Brusola said the victim had only been with her new employers for four days at the time of her death.

"She was supposed to be working on the day she supposedly took a dive in the pool. She wouldn't even dare use her employers' pool," Brusola stressed, quoting the victim’s friends.

The groups expressed strong disappointment over the alleged failure of Italian authorities and Philippine embassy officials to disclose the initial autopsy findings on Mendelebar, and for her friends to see her body before it is repatriated to the Philippines.

Philippine embassy officials in Rome have reportedly taken care of repatriation of the remains of Mendelebar.

An impartial and thorough investigation is needed to dispel suspicions of a possible involvement of her employers, and a possible cover-up of the Italian and Philippine authorities on her death, Brusola added.

Meanwhile, Migrante International is coordinating with Mendelebar's friends in Rome to inform her family in the Philippines.ABSCBN News

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