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Wife of Pinoy mechanic pinned to death in Saudi seeks Arroyo's aid

abs-cbnNEWS.com | 01/09/2009 1:41 PM

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Labor officials have been coordinating with the sponsor of a Filipino overseas worker who died after he was pinned under a vehicle in Saudi Arabia.

“With reference to the case of the late OFW Elvis S. Laverinto, our office has earlier coordinated with his sponsor, Mr. Al-Dossary who now is processing the necessary documents for the repatriation of our kababayan with the concerned authorities and with our Embassy in Riyadh,” said Labor Attache David Des Dicang.

Leverinto was pinned to death under a vehicle he was overhauling. The jack was allegedly detached causing the entire weight of the vehicle to crash down on the victim.

The 41-year-old victim of Barangay Villapaz, Naguillan, Isabela used to be a chief mechanic at Cauayan City before trying his luck as a mechanic in a small shop in Saudi Arabia.

Leverinto left the country on June 18, 2007 in the hope of providing his family a better future. However, on November 15, 2008, his wife and three children received the sad news about his untimely passing.

“We were informed that the late OFW Laverinto holds a visa of a family driver. Thus, he (his next of kin) may not be entitled to GOSI (General Organization of Social Insurance) claims. He (his family) may however be entitled to blood money claims depending on the results of the police investigation of the accident resulting to his death,” said the labor attache.

Leverinto’s family is urged to coordinate with the Office of the Undersecretary for Migrant Workers Affairs (OUMWA) of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA).

“His relatives/ friends in KSA may also coordinate with Mr. Ado Ponciano (for repatriation of human remains) and Mr. Uldarico Malicse, Jr. (for blood money claims) thru telephone nos, 01-4880835, 01-4820507 and 01-4823615,” he said.

Earlier this week, Leverinto’s wife Janneth appealed to the government for help to repatriate her husband’s remains.

"Nananawagan po ako pay Pangulong Gloria (Arroyo) na maiuwi yung bangkay ng asawa ko," appealed Mrs. Laverinto.

Concerned Filipinos who read the news forwarded it to the labor attaché for immediate action to help the family. With a report from Harris Julio, ABS-CBN Regional Network Group, Isabela