DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS 
P R E S S  R E L E A S E
www.dfa.gov.ph                                                                             2330 Roxas Blvd., Pasay City, Philippines                                                                        Tel. No. 834-4000 
SFA-AGR-381-07                                                                                                                                                           24 May 2007

 

Death of Filipina in Afghanistan Confirmed; Philippine Embassy,

Islamabad providing assistance to OFW’s Family

24 May 2007 — Consul General Maria Agnes M. Cervantes of the Philippine Embassy in Islamabad , Pakistan reported to the Department of Foreign Affairs that the body of a woman OFW has been found in Gardez, Afghanistan a day after she was reported missing by her husband. 

“The Filipino woman was reported missing by her husband, also Filipino, after she failed to arrive in Kabul to meet with him on the afternoon of 21 May.  The woman’s last contact with her husband was at around 11:00 a.m. of 21 May, just before she was supposed to board the car to take her from Gardez to the Afghan capital, Kabul , about one-and-a-half hours’ travel away,” Consul General Cervantes said.

She continued to state that at 3:00 p.m. of 22 May, the Embassy’s contact in Afghanistan reported to the Consul General that the woman’s body was found dumped in a well in Gardez.  The driver who was supposed to bring the woman to Kabul is now in police custody and the woman’s body has been brought a hospital in Kabul .

In a phone conversation, Consul General Cervantes assured the victim’s husband of the Embassy’s assistance on the case.  The husband requested that their identities be withheld to protect their privacy.

Upon receiving the report, Foreign Affairs Undersecretary for Migrant Workers Affairs Esteban B. Conejos, Jr. directed Consul General Cervantes to lead a consular team to Kabul to assist the family of the slain OFW and to meet with Afghan authorities to facilitate the investigation into her death and the subsequent return of her remains to the Philippines .  The Undersecretary likewise asked Consul General Cervantes to take advantage of the trip to Kabul to meet with members of the Filipino community there and to provide consular services.

Consul General Cervantes assured the Undersecretary that the Embassy will provide the family of the slain OFW with assistance, and will update the Department on any new development.  END

/egret

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