ILOILO CITY -- The Consular Office (CO) of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) in Iloilo is working on the repatriation of the bones of Angelo Claveria, an Ilonggo factory worker whose skeletal remains were found in Korea.
Anita F. Saldo, officer-in-charge of DFA CO 6, said the victim’s mother Angelita already signed the “acceptance of remains” on Tuesday.
The document will be sent to DFA central office, which in turn, will forward it to the Philippine Embassy in South Korea.
Saldo, however, added that they could not determine if and when the skeletal remains will arrive in the country and in Iloilo.
She added that the family will be properly notified because it is the Philippine Embassy in South Korea that will process the repatriation.
In addition to repatriation, the family may also seek legal assistance from DFA should they want to file a case against the perpetrators, she said Wednesday.
The victim is the eight of the nine siblings and youngest son in the family.
In an earlier interview, the victim’s grieving mother appealed that her son be given justice and let the perpetrators experience pain more than what her son had went through.
Angelita said that her 34-year old son left his hometown in Cabatuan, Iloilo in July 2014 to work as a metal cutter in a factory in Hwaseong, Gyronggi Province, South Korea.
He went home in September 2015 and returned to South Korea after a month.
During Angelo’s short stay in the country, the mother noticed a laceration on his son’s eyebrow. When asked, he answered that he did a “back dive” but did not elaborate.
She added that his son would always cover himself with a blanket as if he wanted to hide his face.
Angelo, before returning to South Korea, also informed his mother that he would be leaving his current job. But it was unconfirmed if his transfer pushed through.
The last time, they communicated was Christmas Eve of 2015.
Meantime, on her Facebook account, the victim’s sister Jeanette said that they asked her brother’s acquaintances in South Korea about his whereabouts when their communication was cut off. She said that their reply was either he went on TNT (tago ng tago or went into hiding) or he found a job as an actor.
Early February this year, the sister asked some of her friends in South Korea to post Michael’s picture at the SOKOR OFW FB Page with the hope that somebody would be able to identify him and tell him to get in touch with his family.
It was in April this year when Jeanette received a call from a friend of the victim, who is also in South Korea, informing her of the reported “human bones inside a water purifier facility.”
The clothes seen inside the purifier was similar to the one worn by Michael in one of his pictures, the sister's FB narration said.
Other local news media reported that the victim's bones were found inside a septic tank in a factory.
On April 20, the Korean Consulate took DNA samples from their mother in Iloilo.
On May 3, reports by various news organizations confirmed that their samples matched, Jeanette narrated in her FB account.
Angelita said she entertained doubts that something bad happened to her son when they took her samples. She said that her son was incapable of making enemies and even described him as effeminate.
Meantime, the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) here said that as announced by DFA Secretary Allan Peter Cayetano, they have regular program for their active members in case of death.
Wilfreda Misterio, OWWA Regional Director in Western Visayas, said that in case of natural death, the immediate family is entitled to a PHP120,000 assistance including burial or PHP220,000 if the death is due to an accident.
Also, if the OFW is single, the parents can avail of a one-time livelihood assistance worth PHP15,000.
The Claveria family, however, has yet to visit the OWWA office. (PNA)
