“The family of Dimacali was notified by the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) about his death only recently, even though he had died in July 2010,” John Leonard Monterona, Middle East regional coordinator for human rights group Migrante, told Arab News on Thursday.

He added that sketchy information provided by the DFA official on Dimacali’s death had worried the worker’s brother, 43-year-old Virgilio.

“We were informed that the mother and wife of Dimacali went to the DFA in Pasay City, hoping to get detailed information on the cause of death,” Monterona said.

However, he added, the case officer gave them the runaround as they tried to also secure repatriation of the remains.

Consequently, the family sought the help of Migrante-Middle East in Riyadh to obtain a copy of the police report to find out the cause of death.

Monterona wrote to the Philippine Embassy in Riyadh about the case and received a reply dated June 1, 2011 confirming Dimacali's death based on a certificate issued by the Saudi Ministry of Health on July 20, 2010.

Monterona said the certificate said that Dimacali had sustained wounds to the head, cracked ribs and bled from the nose.

However, Monterona said, the embassy could not release a copy of the police report. In its letter to Migrante, the embassy said constant and repeated requests to obtain a copy of the police report were declined by the authorities. The embassy was advised that the document was confidential.

The embassy added any report on the circumstances surrounding Dimacali's death might only be speculation.

Monterona said that this was precisely the reason the family was asking the embassy to obtain the police report.

He added that if it was true the Saudi authorities had refused to provide a copy, the more reason the family had to suspect foul play.

Dimacali arrived in Riyadh from Manila in September 2008 and was about to finish his contract when he died. He had been deployed by Al-Mostaqbal Agency.