GRIEVING. The family of Marjorette Garcia during the “hero's welcome” held at their residence in San Jacinto, Pangasinan on Saturday (Oct. 14, 2023). The family received financial assistance from the national and local governments. (PNA photo by Hilda Austria)
SAN JACINTO, Pangasinan – The family of Marjorette Garcia, the Filipino worker killed by her co-employee in Saudi Arabia, received various benefits and cash grants from the national government agencies and the provincial government on Saturday.
Department of Migrant Workers Officer-in-Charge Hans Leo Cacdac and Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) chief Arnell Ignacio visited the overseas Filipino worker’s (OFW) wake at her residence in Barangay Awai here to hand livelihood assistance to the family and scholarship grants for the children.
The provincial government gave PHP50,000.
OWWA-Ilocos Director Gerardo Rimorin said in a press conference that the family will also receive PHP200,000 death benefit and PHP20,000 burial benefit.
Ignacio said the agency will be in constant coordination with the family to further assist in any of their needs that the agency could still provide.
Garcia’s remains arrived Friday morning.
A Kenyan co-worker, reportedly jealous over their employers’ preferential treatment on the 32-year-old Garcia, stabbed her on Sept. 16, according to the initial report of the Saudi police.
The suspect was arrested.
"There is enough basis to file charges against the suspect. The case is now awaiting first hearing. A lawyer was hired to handle the case of Marjorette who vowed to do everything to bring justice for her death," Cacdac said.
Garcia’s mother said it was her daughter's first time to work abroad. She had just extended her contract, which was to end by October after three years, when the stabbing happened.
"Marjorette's case is a sad reminder of the risks OFWs take when they work abroad in hope of giving a bright future for their family here, especially their children," Ignacio said. (PNA)
