Pagkamatay ng 2 OFW sa Saudi Arabia na nagsumbong ng pangmamaltrato, iimbestigahan | 24 Oras

GMA Integrated News

12 Aug 202403:14

Summary

TLDRThe families of two OFWs, Jell Arguzon and Rolin Saon, who recently died in Saudi Arabia, have sought help from the Philippine Senate. Both OFWs reportedly experienced maltreatment from their employers before their deaths, which were initially ruled as natural causes. However, the families are not convinced and demand further investigation. They are pushing for autopsies in the Philippines, led by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), to uncover the truth. The Department of Foreign Affairs may request that the Saudi government hold the employers accountable if evidence of foul play is found.

Takeaways

👨‍👩‍👦‍👦 Families of two OFWs who died in Saudi Arabia have sought help from the Senate.
😔 The victims reported being mistreated by their employers several times before their deaths.
📅 Jel Arguzon was deployed to Saudi Arabia on June 16, and within a week, she reported maltreatment to her spouse.
😡 Jel reported that her passport was confiscated, and she experienced harassment from the employer's child.
📞 On June 28, Jel's family lost contact with her and reached out to the recruitment agency.
❌ The family criticizes the recruitment agency for not contacting Saudi authorities or the Philippine embassy when Jel went missing.
⚰️ On July 20, the family was informed of Jel's death due to cardiac arrest, but the family questions the official cause.
🕵️‍♂️ The NBI plans to conduct an autopsy in the Philippines to verify Jel's cause of death.
🚪 Rolin Saon, another OFW, was last in contact with her spouse on July 15, and her family doubts the report of her death from natural causes.
⛔ The recruitment agencies involved have had their licenses suspended, and the DFA may request the Saudi government to charge the employers if evidence supports the allegations.

Q & A

Who are the families seeking help from the Senate?
-The families of two Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) who died in Saudi Arabia are seeking help from the Senate.
What happened to the two OFWs in Saudi Arabia?
-The two OFWs reportedly experienced maltreatment from their employers before their deaths, which occurred in July.
When did Jel, one of the OFWs, report maltreatment?
-Jel reported maltreatment to her husband a week after being deployed to Saudi Arabia on June 16.
What were the specific complaints mentioned by Jel?
-Jel reported that her passport was taken and a glass she was using was thrown by her employer's child.
What actions did Jel’s family take after losing contact with her?
-Jel’s family reached out to the recruitment agency, who then contacted the employer. However, the agency did not take further steps to contact Saudi authorities or the Philippine embassy.
When did the family learn about Jel's death and what was the reported cause?
-The family was informed on July 20 that Jel had died from cardiac arrest.
What were the initial findings from Jel’s autopsy?
-The initial autopsy indicated that Jel's death was due to natural causes.
Why does Jel’s family not accept the initial autopsy results?
-Jel’s family does not accept the initial autopsy results and is pushing for another autopsy in the Philippines, conducted by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI).
What happened to Rolina, the other OFW mentioned in the script?
-Rolina reportedly died from natural causes on July 16, but her family also doubts this and is seeking further investigation.
What steps are being taken to investigate the deaths of the two OFWs?
-Both recruitment agencies have had their licenses suspended, and the NBI will conduct its own autopsies once the bodies are repatriated. The Department of Foreign Affairs will request the Saudi government to charge the employers if evidence is found.

Outlines

00:00

🚨 Families of Deceased OFWs Seek Help from the Senate

The families of two overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) who passed away in Saudi Arabia in July have turned to the Senate for assistance. Before their deaths, the victims had reportedly complained multiple times about maltreatment from their employers. Senator Mark Salazar is now involved in the case.

🕊️ Families Seek Justice for OFWs J Arguzon and Rolin Saon

The families of J Arguzon and Rolin Saon, two OFWs who recently died in Saudi Arabia, want to clarify the real cause of their deaths. In the case of J, she was deployed on June 16, but after just a week, she reported to her husband about being maltreated. The maltreatment included the confiscation of her passport and incidents where her employer's child threw things at her.

📞 Families Lost Contact with J Arguzon Before Death

Since June 28, J's family was unable to contact her, prompting them to reach out to the recruitment agency. The agency claimed they called the employer, who allegedly said J was in the office. The family was advised to contact Saudi authorities or the Philippine embassy, but by July 19, they learned of her passing. On July 20, the agency officially informed the family that J had died of cardiac arrest.

🧪 Autopsy and Questions About Cause of Death

An autopsy conducted in Saudi Arabia showed that J died of natural causes, but the family refused to accept this finding. They insisted on having another autopsy done in the Philippines, which they believe is feasible given that J's body was intact. The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) will conduct the autopsy once her remains arrive.

🕵️‍♂️ Suspicious Circumstances Surround Rolin Saon’s Death

Rolin Saon was last in contact with his wife on July 15, reporting that the door was frequently locked. He was reported dead on July 16, with the cause of death also listed as natural, which the family does not believe. Both recruitment agencies involved have had their licenses suspended.

⚖️ NBI to Conduct Autopsy; DFA to Seek Legal Action

The NBI will perform autopsies on both J Arguzon and Rolin Saon once their remains are repatriated. If any evidence of foul play is found, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) will request that the Saudi government file charges against the employers of the deceased OFWs.

📺 Mark Salazar Reports on OFW Deaths Investigation

Reporter Mark Salazar provides an update on the Senate's involvement in the investigation of the deaths of J Arguzon and Rolin Saon. The families continue to seek justice for their loved ones as authorities work on uncovering the truth behind their deaths.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡OFW

OFW stands for Overseas Filipino Workers, Filipinos working in other countries. In this video, it refers to two workers who tragically died in Saudi Arabia under suspicious circumstances, drawing attention to the maltreatment many OFWs face abroad.

💡Maltreatment

Maltreatment refers to the abuse or mistreatment faced by the two OFWs at the hands of their employers. Both workers reportedly experienced verbal and emotional abuse, as illustrated by incidents like throwing objects at one of the victims. This abuse is a central issue, raising concerns about the welfare of OFWs.

💡Recruitment Agency

The recruitment agency is responsible for facilitating the employment of these OFWs abroad. In this script, the families of the deceased workers reached out to their agencies when they lost contact, but the agencies failed to respond effectively. This highlights the failure of recruitment agencies in protecting OFWs.

💡Cardiac arrest

Cardiac arrest is the official cause of death given for one of the OFWs, J Arguzon. However, the families doubt this explanation, suspecting foul play. The mention of cardiac arrest as a potential cover-up fuels the families' demand for a proper investigation.

💡Autopsy

An autopsy is the examination of a body after death to determine the cause. The families demand an autopsy in the Philippines, dissatisfied with the Saudi authorities’ ruling of natural death. This reflects their mistrust in foreign investigations and their search for justice.

💡National Bureau of Investigation (NBI)

The NBI is a Philippine agency tasked with investigating criminal cases. In the video, the families plan to request NBI assistance in conducting a second autopsy, emphasizing their determination to uncover the truth about the deaths of their relatives.

💡Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA)

The DFA is the government body in the Philippines responsible for managing foreign relations. The families are relying on the DFA to pressure Saudi authorities to bring justice, underscoring the role of the government in protecting OFWs abroad.

💡Suspended License

The recruitment agencies involved with the two OFWs have had their licenses suspended, which means they are temporarily unable to operate. This suspension reflects the Philippine government's initial step toward accountability, though it is not seen as sufficient by the families.

💡Employer

The employer refers to the people or organization in Saudi Arabia responsible for the OFWs. The employers' alleged maltreatment and involvement in the workers’ deaths are central to the families' call for justice. The video underscores the lack of accountability for abusive employers.

💡Natural Death

Natural death is the official ruling on the deaths of both OFWs, as reported by Saudi authorities. The families reject this explanation, believing that the deaths were the result of abuse. The concept of natural death is pivotal in the discussion of potential cover-ups and the need for further investigation.

Highlights

Families of two OFWs in Saudi Arabia sought help from the Senate after their deaths in July.

The OFWs had repeatedly reported maltreatment by their employers before their deaths.

Mark Salazar reports that the families of J. Arguzon and R. Rolon requested clarity on the true cause of their deaths.

J. Arguzon was deployed to Saudi Arabia on June 16, and within a week, she reported maltreatment to her husband.

Arguzon complained of her passport being confiscated and instances of abuse, including a child throwing a cup at her.

Since June 28, Arguzon’s family lost contact with her, prompting them to approach the recruitment agency.

The recruitment agency initially claimed the employer said Arguzon was fine, but she was later reported dead on July 20 due to cardiac arrest.

The autopsy in Saudi Arabia declared Arguzon’s death as 'natural,' but her family refused to accept this result.

An autopsy in the Philippines is planned, with the NBI (National Bureau of Investigation) involved in the process.

R. Rolon’s family last spoke to him on July 15, and he was reported dead the next day, also classified as a 'natural death.'

The families suspect foul play in both cases and are pushing for further investigation.

The licenses of both recruitment agencies handling Arguzon and Rolon have been suspended.

The NBI will conduct autopsies once the bodies of the two OFWs return to the Philippines.

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) will seek to file charges against the employers in Saudi Arabia if evidence of foul play is found.

The Senate's involvement underscores the urgency of clarifying the deaths and protecting OFWs abroad.