Pamintuan helps repatriate OFW remains

CLARK FREEPORT --- The remains of Arnel Sahagun, the overseas Filipino worker (OFW) who died in London on October 15, were finally brought home to his family in Angeles City.
Subic-Clark Alliance for Development Council (SCADC) Chairman Sec. Edgardo D. Pamintuan, whom Sahagun’s family approached for help, facilitated in the transportation of the OFW’s body from London, England.
Sahagun, a chef in a restaurant in London, was found dead inside the subway in Leeds. Initial reports from the police suspected suicide as the cause of death. However, the family is not inclined to accept the report because according to them, a very happy Arnel called them up a few days before his death to report of his promotion.
Investigations are now leading towards the possibility that he may have been murdered and that his body was dumped inside the subway.
Ma. Cozette Sahagun, resident of 292 Ilang-ilang St. Nepo Subdivision, Angeles City accompanied by her daughter and a TV crew from CLTV36, visited the office of Pamintuan inside the Freeport to report the incident.
Pamintuan, who has expressed his intention to run for mayor of Angeles City in 2010, immediately called the departments of Foreign Affairs, Labor and Employment and the Philippine Consul-General to the Court of St. James to request for their assistance in attending to the needs of Arnel Sahagun and his family, whose immediate concern was how to bring home his remains to the country.
In separate replies thru text messages, Labor Sec. Marianito Roque and Con-Gen Ma. Theresa S. Dizon-de Vega assured Pamintuan and the family of Sahagun that they will exert all effort to assist, not only in the investigation of the death of Arnel, but also in bringing him home to his family in the Philippines.
This is not the first time that Pamintuan, who is also the Presidential Adviser on External Affairs, extended assistance to our OFWs in Europe and in the Middle East who have been charged in courts or have pending court cases in their countries of deployment.
“This is in support of the efforts of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to look after the affairs and conditions of our countrymen abroad, especially those who are imprisoned and those who are facing death penalties,” Pamintuan said.
Arnel Sahagun and his wife, who is a caregiver, entered England four years ago. If his employment status in London, England is legal, he is entitled to benefits from the Philippine Overseas Employment Authority (POEA) and the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA). His wife has been instructed to coordinate with the Philippine consulate in London in order to facilitate the investigation and expedite the transportation of his remains.