Gov't help assured to kin of OFW who died in Saudi hospital
Government assistance has been assured to the family of Irma Edloy Jotojot, the Filipino worker who died while confined at a Saudi Arabia hospital in August.
Because Jotojot had an active membership at the time of her death, her family is entitled to receive benefits from Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA).
Her spouse is entitled to receive P15,000 under OWWA's Expanded Livelihood Assistance Program (ELAP) in addition to the P120,000 in death and burial benefits they received in September.
One of her children may also avail of scholarship assistance in the form of yearly allowances at increments of P5,000 for elementary, P8,000 for high school, and P10,000 for collegiate level.
Labor Undersecretary Ciriaco A. Lagunzad lll and OWWA Administrator Hans Leo Cacdac headed the OWWA repatriation team that escorted Jotojot's body with her family to their residence in Quezon City.
"We are very sad to see an OFW who comes home in a coffin. More than the financial benefits and livelihood assistance OWWA extends to the bereaved family, we are hopeful that they can feel our sincere condolences, and we hope that one way or the other, they are able to cope with the unfortunate incident,” Cacdac said.
Previous reports indicate that Jotojot, an alleged victim of rape and abuse, passed away on August 18 at King Salman Hospital in Riyadh after she suffered a stroke upon seeing her former employer. Her family believes her death was due to foul play.
Resolutions have been filed both in the Senate and House of Representatives calling for an investigation on her death. —Rie Takumi/KBK, GMA News
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