CEBU CITY – An Overseas Filipino Worker (OFW) with cervical cancer died in a hotel quarantine facility here.
In a report by GMA News, the family of Rachelle Sagonoy tried to admit her in a hospital but the repeated pleas were turned down due to lack of available rooms.
The report added that the OFW died on the day she was set to go home after pleas for a hospital transfer were not granted due to supposed lack of available rooms.
Sagonoy arrived in Cebu from Saudi Arabia on August 10. She tested negative for COVID-19 and was brought to a hotel form the mandatory quarantine.
The woman’s family said the OFW was already experiencing difficulty in breathing while being brought to the quarantine facility.
According to the OFW’s cousin, they were still able to communicate with Sagonoy through chat and video calls while she was in the hotel.
Councilor Joel Garganera, chief of the Cebu City’s Emergency Operations Center, said the incident is being handled by the Department of Health (DOH) and the Overseas Workers Welfare Association (OWWA).
“We are saddened by this news and we extend our condolences to the family. As for the EOC, this matter is solely within the jurisdiction of OWWA and the DOH since this involves an OFW so we can only wait for the result of their investigation regarding this matter,” said Garganera.