DAVAO CITY – A grieving family from Davao City is appealing for immediate assistance from Philippine authorities after learning that their loved one, an Overseas Filipino Worker (OFW) in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, had died under circumstances that remain unclear, with her remains reportedly being kept in a morgue freezer while awaiting further processing.
The deceased was identified as Sheila Agao, a resident of Davao City who had been working in Riyadh to provide a better future for her children and support their children’s education.
According to the family, they last communicated with Sheila on July 6. After days of being unable to reach her, their growing concern turned into heartbreak when, on July 14, they received devastating news—not from her employer or recruitment agency—but from one of Sheila’s friends working abroad, who informed them that she had already passed away.
The family said they were shocked that no official notification had been made by Sheila’s employer regarding her death. They also stressed that they have yet to receive any information about the circumstances or cause of her passing.
Their concerns intensified after they learned that Sheila’s remains had reportedly been placed in a freezer while awaiting further procedures, leaving them desperate for answers and assistance.
“We still don’t know what really happened to her. We only learned about her death through a friend overseas,” the family said, expressing frustration over the lack of communication from those responsible for informing them.
In an emotional social media post that has since gained widespread attention, Sheila’s cousin, Leah, shared the family’s grief and frustration.
According to Leah, Sheila endured the hardships of working abroad to ensure that her children could finish their education. She lamented that despite the family’s repeated attempts to contact Sheila beginning July 6 after losing communication with her, they only learned of her death eight days later.
She also questioned why the employer allegedly failed to immediately notify the family and appealed to Sheila’s recruitment agency to help coordinate with the employer and facilitate the repatriation of her remains.
The viral appeal has prompted an update from the uploader, who later revealed that they had managed to establish contact with Sheila’s employer after the family’s social media post gained widespread attention.
Despite this development, the family continues to seek government intervention to determine the true cause of Sheila’s death and to expedite the return of her remains to the Philippines so she can finally be laid to rest with dignity.
The family is also urging concerned government agencies, including the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW), the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), and the Philippine Embassy in Saudi Arabia, to assist in the investigation, ensure proper coordination with Saudi authorities, and provide all available support for the repatriation process.
As of this writing, no official statement has been released regarding the cause of Sheila Agao’s death, and authorities have yet to disclose further details surrounding the incident.
The tragic case has sparked sympathy online, with many Filipinos calling for a thorough investigation and greater protection for overseas Filipino workers, whose sacrifices often come at great personal cost.
The Mindanao Sentinel extends its deepest condolences to the family and loved ones of Sheila Agao during this difficult time. We hope that the circumstances surrounding her untimely death will be fully clarified, accountability established where warranted, and that her remains will soon be brought home to the Philippines, where she can be given the dignified farewell she deserves.