Kin doubt death of OFW in Saudi Arabia was suicide

GENERAL SANTOS CITY – The family of Mary Cris Serato, who allegedly committed suicide while working as a domestic helper in Saudi Arabia, has asked the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) to look deeper into the circumstances surrounding her death.

Mary Che Salili, Serato’s sister, expressed doubts over the claims made by her sister’s recruitment agency Techsearch International Corporation that Mary Cris committed suicide last October 1,

Salili said she was even able to chat on Facebook with her sister, who told her that she was already planning to go home on October 1.

According to Salili, Mary Cris confided to her that she was in constant fear after Yousef Sulaiman Abdulaziz Alhawas, the son of her employer, tried to molest her. Her employer was Abdulrahman Albakri.

Salili added that her communication with Mary Cris stopped after that. They were later informed by officials of Techsearch that her sister was already dead.

“There were no clear details (regarding) the circumstances surrounding the death of my sister,” said Salili who feared of a possible foul play on her sister’s case.

The 27 year-old Serato, who is from Malapatan, Sarangani, resigned last April as cashier at a shopping mall here to work as a domestic helper in Saudi Arabia.

She opted to work abroad to eke out a living to support her seven yearold son.

Salili said OWWA administrator Hans Cacdac has already informed their family that the remains of Mary Cris will arrive in Manila by the first week of November.

She said Cacdac assured the victim’s family of assistance and benefits rom OWWA.