DMW awaiting official reports on deaths of 3 Filipinos in UAE floods

Cars are stranded on a flooded street in Dubai following heavy rains on April 18, 2024. Dubai’s giant highways were clogged by flooding and its major airport was in chaos as the Middle East financial centre remained gridlocked on April 18, a day after the heaviest rains on record. (AFP)

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) said it is still waiting for official documents on the deaths of three Filipinos due to massive flooding in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

In a press briefing on Tuesday, DMW confirmed that bereaved families of the two Filipinos who died are questioning the deaths of their loved ones.

DMW Officer-in-Charge Hans Cacdac said it was, in fact, one of the reasons why he went to Bacolor, Pampanga on Tuesday, to personally discuss the matter.

“Una, kinakalap pa yung mga reports — police report, the forensic report —  to establish the events that occurred with respect to Marjorie and Jenny. Pangalawa, we have hired a lawyer, yung ating legal retainer to look into the details, the reports, and in relation to the laws of the UAE and to take up with us yung kanyang assessment on any possible legal action or liabilities that may be available,” said Cacdac.

(First, we are still waiting for reports — police report, forensic report — to establish the events that occurred with respect to Majorie and Jenny. Second, we have hired a lawyer, our legal retainer, to look into the details, the reports and in relation to the laws of the UAE to take yo with us the assessment on any possible legal action of liabilities that may be available.)

Cacdac assured the bereaved families that every inch of the issue would be thoroughly discussed should the DMW gather all information needed.

In the same press conference, Migrant Workers Office (MWO) Labor Attaché in Dubai John Rio Bautista seconded Cacdac’s remarks.

“Hanggat hindi pa po natin nakikita yun ay hindi po natin talaga madetermine ang circumstances surrounding the death ng ating mga kababayan,” he said, pertaining to the reports.

(We cannot categorically determine the circumstances surrounding the death of our countrymen without us seeing the reports.)

Bautista said the next of kin of the two deceased Filipinos are set to face on April 24 a “legal retainer” for them to be briefed about the legal options that they may seek.

Cacdac on April 18 disclosed the deaths of the three Filipinos following a torrential downpour that triggered widespread flooding in the UAE.

According to Cacdac, two of the overseas Filipino workers died due to suffocation inside their vehicle during the flood while the other OFW died due to a vehicular accident.