ASINGAN–The remains of two overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) who died in a hotel fire in Dubai last November 6 and brought back home were buried before noon Thursday at the municipal cemetery here.

Buried after a weeklong wake in their homes were the charred remains of Ariel Soberano and Renalyn Luna, both of Barangay Solbol. Asingan.

They were repatriated, along with the remains of another OFW who also died in the hotel fire, Greslyn Sagum of Barangay Bacag, Villasis, whose date of interment has yet to be set.

Provincial Board Member Ranjit Ramos Shahani said he will pass a resolution calling on the Sangguniang Panlungsod’s committee on foreign affairs and labor and employment to find out in aid of legislation how Soberano and Luna were able to go to Dubai and work there despite being undocumented.

Shahani suspects illegal recruitment agencies are already operating with offices in Pangasinan to give a semblance of legitimacy.

As undocumented workers, Soberano and Luna did not get any benefit from the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), unlike Sagum.

The remains of the three arrived on November 26, which was expedited through efforts from Consul General Benito Valeriano and Shahani.

Of the three OFWs who died, only Sagum was found to be a documented worker while Soberano and Luna were found by Dubai authorities to have entered their country illegally.

Also without any valid paper is Reynald Luna, brother of Renalyn, who is currently at a hospital in Dubai recuperating from the serious injuries he suffered during the same fire.–LM

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