A lawmaker is calling for the investigation of the death of an overseas Filipino worker (OFW) whose body was found floating in a river in Malaysia.
Nueva Ecija Rep. Micaela Violago said that the death of the Filipina and other “unconscionable deaths and abuses” of OFWs in Malaysia must be properly investigated.
“It is imperative for this 17th Congress to look into policies of the DFA, if any, about monitoring an estimated 400,000 undocumented OFWs who failed to avail of the Voluntary Deportation Programme of the Malaysian government which is similar to the amnesty programme offered by the UAE to undocumented expatriates,” Violago said.
The Philippine Embassy in Malaysia said that OFW Madelyn Bernardo Asuncion was found by a group of plantation workers lifeless while floating in the Pengalan river in Melalap on November 28.
The DFA said that Asuncion hailed from Zamboanga City and has been living in Malaysia with her father for over a decade.
Her father was the one who helped authorities identify her remains and confirm her identity.
Philippine Ambassador to Malaysia Charles Jose added that there are enough evidence to classify Asuncion’s death as a possible homicide.
