13 July 2005 – The Philippine Embassy in Athens, the Hellenic Republic of Greece reported to the Department of Foreign Affairs that they are closely monitoring the condition of a Filipino worker who is being treated in a hospital in Cyprus for multiple injuries she suffered after falling from her apartment window on Saturday, 9 July 2005.  The Philippine Embassy in Athens has jurisdiction over Philippine interests in Cyprus.

Philippine Ambassador to Greece Lourdes G. Morales reported that she dispatched Philippine Honorary Consul in Nicosia, Cyprus Vanthoula Tsaousis Constantinides to visit the Filipino, identified as Ms. Crisanta Ala Abejar, at the Nicosia General Hospital to ascertain the Filipino’s condition and the possible assistance that could be extended to her.  Honorary Consul Constantinides visited Ms. Abejar on Sunday, 10 July 2005.

Ambassador Morales said that according to the report of Honorary Consul Constantinides, Ms. Abejar suffered several fractures on her body, including the arms and legs after reportedly falling from the second floor window of the apartment building she was living in on the morning of 09 July 2005.  Ambassador Morales also informed that on 10 July, Ms. Abejar underwent an operation for stomach hemorrhage as a result of her fall and is still in critical condition.  The Filipino is currently being closely observed at the hospital’s intensive care unit.

Ambassador Morales further instructed Honorary Consul Constantinides to continue monitoring the condition of Ms. Abejar and determine what form of assistance she may need.  The Honorary Consul was also instructed to coordinate closely with the police as they conduct their investigation into the circumstances surrounding Ms. Abejar’s fall from the building’s second-storey window.

Meanwhile, the DFA Office of the Undersecretary for Migrant Workers’ Affairs (OUMWA) has spoken with the Filipino’s next of kin to inform them of Ms. Abejar’s condition and the steps being taken by Philippine Embassy officials and representatives in the Greece and Cyprus to assist her.  On the morning of 12 July, an OUMWA case officer spoke with Ms. Abejar’s brother Angel Abejar and married sister Severina Peñaranda and assured them that the Philippine Embassy is ready to assist their sister in any way possible.

Based on information reaching the Philippine Embassy in Athens and the DFA-OUMWA, at the time of her fall, Ms. Abejar has been unemployed for about two months already after being discharged by her last employer, although her visa is still valid until 2006.  She is currently staying with a lady friend who is also a Filipino worker in Cyprus.  According to the report, Ms. Abejar has been suffering emotionally and perhaps even psychologically after going through personal crises involving her British boyfriend who is also based in Cyprus.  END
 
 

/jay