OFFICIAL NEWS RELEASE (March 8, 2018)
Recruitment agency to ask Kuwait authorities
to investigate person, NGO involved
in escape from hospital of OFW Jeanette Opido
REMAINS OF OFW JEANETTE OPIDO
ARRIVED FROM KUWAIT MORNING OF MARCH 8
The remains of OFW Jeanette Opido (also known by her maiden name Jeanette Plegaria on social media) arrived from Kuwait Thursday morning (March 8) at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Manila. the manpower recruitment agency that originally deployed her to Kuwait said.
In a statement, iRekrut Manpower managing director Roland Collado also said they will ask the Kuwait government to go after the person, Glaiza Gamboa, as well as her cohorts, involved in Opido's illegal hospital discharge in September 2017.
"We will request our FRA (foreign recruitment agency counterpart) to coordinate with the local Kuwait authorities to investigate the alleged Filipino companions of Opido when she escaped from the hospital," the iRekrut official said.
Collado also refuted allegations and speculations hurled in social that they abandoned Opido. The iRekrut official said they attended to Opido through their foreign recruitment agency counterpart in Kuwait, Teflah Mohsen Duhaiman Al Dhafeeri Manpower Office.
"All throughout Opido's confinement (1st, 2nd and 3rd) our FRA was with her as evidenced by the pictures attached in our several reports (to the POEA)...The Filipino secretaries of our FRA were regularly present in the hospital during the confinement as evidenced by the pictures we have submitted in our reports," iRekrut said.
Collado added that "Opido herself confirmed that she was in the custody of a certain GLAIZA GAMBOA, who is not an employee of our FRA. Initial reports would indicate that an NGO facilitated Opido's escape from the hospital and thereafter, a certain GLAIZA GAMBOA, allowed her to stay in their accommodation. "
"The NGO should likewise explain why they kept in their custody a medically-ill worker instead of bringing her immediately to the hospital or at least, at the Philippine Embassy. From the start, we have been asking OPIDO to report to Embassy but she refused to follow," Collado said.
The iRekrut official also enumerated the 12 reports they sent to POEA about Opido.
| 1st | 7/14/17 | When OPIDO was admitted to the hospital and underwent surgery |
| 2nd | 7/31/17 | Visit and assistance of our FRA to OPIDO and continuous checking on her condition. At the same time the coordination of our FRA w/ ATNU for her repatriation |
| 3rd | 8/31/17 | Improvement on the condition of OPIDO; process of her travel documents |
| 4th | 9/26/17 | Informing that OPIDO went out of the hospital with the assistance of an NGO in Fahaheel, Kuwait |
| 5th | 10/13/17 | Worker confirmed that she is staying with a certain "GLAIZA GAMBOA"; we instructed OPIDO to proceed to POLO/Embassy but refused to follow as she still wants to work |
| 6th | 12/27/17 | Reported that the worker already assisted by our FRA to apply for travel documents at the Phil. Embassy |
| 7th | 1/15/18 | FRA brought OPIDO to the hospital for checkup for a fit to travel certificate; she was confined for 4 days; was discharged after some lab tests; NO PAYMENT WAS REQUIRED BY THE HOSPITAL |
| 8th | 2/19/18 | In response to the social media postings, we submitted a full report to Atty. Basas from the start of the case up the present situation; and informing the worker was brought to hospital by our FRA/Embassy |
| 9th | 2/22/18 | Update on the efforts of our FRA with POLO/Embassy and a relative of OPIDO in Kuwait |
| 10th | 2/23/18 | Transfer of OPIDO to ICU |
| 11th | 2/26/18 | Death of OPIDO; same report was forwarded to OWWA Admin Cacdac |
| 12th | 3/2/18 | Update on the repatriation of the body of OPIDO; coordination with the family members |
He also said Opido only had two employers until she ran away from her last employer sometime April 2016.
"Instead of seeking shelter at our Embassy or asking assistance from our FRA, she worked illegally as part time cleaner. Even after her operation (1st confinement) she refused to be repatriated and instead insisted on working illegally," iRekrut said.
"Jeanette was uncooperative with us and our FRA when we asked her that we will process her repatriation. It was only in December 2017 that she cooperated with us for the process of her repatriation. She was confined for 4 days last January, was eventually properly discharged and was even given a fit to travel certificate," the agency also said.
Opido died last February 23. The Kuwait Ministry of Health said her cause of death was "acute failure of blood circulation and stop of heart muscles and respiration, heavy weakness in heart muscles, lung infection, failure of respiration functions." (END)
No comments:
Post a Comment