The Antonio family in Laoag City, Ilocos Norte, is mourning the loss of their loved one, an overseas Filipino worker in Papua New Guinea.
In a report by CJ Torida on GMA Regional TV “Balitang Amianan” on Wednesday, the slain OFW was identified as Romulo Antonio Jr., 36, and a working manager in Papua New Guinea.
Based on the information received by Antonio’s family, Romulo’s body was found in a remote area.
Four men were allegedly forced to take the victim from the opposite side of the house where he was staying.
With the help of a CCTV camera, one of the suspects was identified, which became the way to find out where the OFW’s body was dumped.
It is said that the purpose of the perpetrators of the OFW was a robbery but it turned out to be a heinous crime.
According to Antonio’s family, the authorities in Papua New Guinea have arrested others involved in Romulo’s murder.
However, Antonio’s family still finds it difficult to accept the plight of their loved one.
Meanwhile, the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA-Ilocos-Norte) initially refused to give a statement because they did not have any documents about the victim.
Despite this, they assured that they would help the OFW’s family to get the corresponding benefits.
The Antonio family will also liaise with the Department of Foreign Affairs to bring back the remains of the OFWs to the Philippines.
199 OFWs leave Ukraine; 63 returned to the Philippines— DFA
The Department of Foreign Affairs announced that 63 Filipinos from Ukraine have returned to the Philippines.
“We are happy that 199 Filipinos are already out of harm’s way. A total of 63 have arrived from Ukraine, and 136 are awaiting repatriation,” DFA Undersecretary for Migrant Workers’ Affairs Sarah Lou Arriola said in a Laging Handa briefing on Wednesday.
The DFA on Monday raised the situation in Ukraine to Alert Level 4 due to the deterioration of the situation there due to Russia’s ongoing attacks.
As a result, the DFA has ordered the forced evacuation of Filipinos to Ukraine.
According to Arriola, there are still Filipinos in Ukraine who refuse to return home. He said they could not leave their jobs and others already had families there.
Arriola added that the DFA is also working with other agencies such as the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), and the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), to help returning Filipinos.
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