Benguet Gov. Nestor Fongwan last week called on Foreign Affairs Sec. Alberto Romulo to facilitate the repatriation of the remains of two overseas workers from Benguet who died while working abroad.

Fongwan identified the dead overseas workers as Roger Tomin Laoyan of Baayan, Tublay and Felix Bautista of Poblacion, Buguias.

Bautista, a native of Cervantes, Ilocos Sur but who married in Buguias, has been working as a heavy equipment operator in Laos since 1994.
Report of his death from unknown causes reached his family who lost no time in asking the governor to intercede.

Last week, the governor and Bautista’s family agreed to send Benjamin Palbosa, a cousin of Bautista’s wife, to Laos to bring home his remains.
“Palbosa will coordinate with Philippine embassy officials in the Philippines and Laos to bring home Bautista’s remains,” said Fongwan.

He said the family feared that if Bautista’s remains will be repatriated back to the Philippines, it would be cremated in Laos.

“It is the last thing the family wants because cremation is still unacceptable to us in the province,” he said. “Besides, they also want to render him a decent burial.”

Laoyan, on the other hand, was reported dead last Nov. 19 at his workplace in Patio Do Sairro, Macau where he is employed as a security guard since 2006.

Laoyan’s family has not been informed about the cause of his death.
Fongwan said he is awaiting word from the foreign affairs office before his office decides on the next move.