Family of dead OFW gets ‘wrong’ cadaver from Riyadh

The family of an overseas Filipino worker (OFW) who died in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia were dismayed after the coffin they received at the cargo terminal of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 1 contained cadaver of an Arab-looking corpse.

Jose Dwight Lucente, of Etihad Airlines, said the cadaver arrived on board their aircraft on Feb. 3, 2016 inside a labeled coffin labeled “Danilo Yambao Patawaran” and it was claimed by his family and brought to San Simon, Pampanga.

However, family members were shocked and scared to discover that the cadaver in the coffin was not Danilo after the funeral parlor personnel opened the casket.

They immediately returned the casket to Etihad airline cargo for proper disposition while the family was hoping that the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) will take an immediate action to repatriate the cadaver of Danilo back to the country as soon as possible.

Domingo Patawaran, father of Danilo, confirmed that the cadaver that was placed in the coffin was not his son. Danilo was 30 years old and was working as an engineer when he died. The father refused to divulge the cause of his son’s death and asked the media to respect their right to privacy.

The airline is waiting for the advice from the DFA if the cadaver will be transported back to Saudi Arabia.