“As far as we know, the autopsy report has been sent to the governor's office in Alkhobar. It would be the basis of the police report, but so far nothing has been heard about this police report,” said John Leonard Monterona, regional coordinator for Migrante International Middle East.
“It could be recalled that former Ambassador Antonio P. Villamor sought dialogue with the Saudi authorities to ensure the Philippine Embassy could get a copy of the report," he said, adding that the Philippine Embassy should work harder so that something positive can be announced.
"It's in the interest of the 1.4-million-strong Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) in the Kingdom as well as compatriots in the Philippines, especially Romilyn’s family in North Cotabato, to know what really caused her death," Monterona said.
“Marilyn was not an ordinary maid. She was a scholarship student … and she came to Saudi Arabia with the hope of being able to help her parents. We call on the embassy to secure a police report as soon as possible to show that it's not sitting on the case," Monterona said.
He added that the slow progress on the case had earlier prompted his group to call on President Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III to send a qualified career diplomat to replace Ambassador Antonio P. Villamor in Saudi Arabia. Villamor left for the Philippines on Thursday afternoon.
"The new ambassador should not be only a seasoned career diplomat who is up to the job regarding OFWs in Saudi Arabia but also able to project an image that he's not only active and dynamic but also not sitting on cases. As of now, we receive no information at all regarding the progress on the investigation into Romilyn’s death," Monterona said.
