DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac is set to fly to Abu Dhabi this week to personally look into the death of an overseas Filipino worker (OFW).
The visit comes as the family and fellow Filipinos abroad continue to seek answers over the passing of Mary Jill Muya, 44, who was found lifeless inside her room in Abu Dhabi on December 31, 2025.
In an interview with GMA News Online, Cacdac said he will arrive in the UAE early January 9, determined to closely examine the circumstances surrounding Muya’s death.
“We will arrive in Dubai in the early morning of January 9th,” he said.
For now, authorities are still waiting.
Cacdac confirmed that officials are awaiting the official forensic report from the local police—an essential document before conclusions can be made.
Meanwhile, Philippine Ambassador to the UAE Alfonso Ver said the government is preparing for the repatriation of Muya’s remains, once all required documents are completed.
At this point, the process remains on hold.
The Migrant Workers Office (MWO) at the Philippine Embassy in Abu Dhabi has yet to arrange the repatriation, pending the release of a formal death notification from the mortuary.
“Once the notification of death, death certificates, and other documentary requirements have been issued,” Ver explained, “we can process the repatriation of the remains.”
Out of respect for the ongoing investigation, the ambassador declined to speculate on the cause of death, saying they will wait for the police to finish their work.
Mary Jill Muya was a native of Jaro, Iloilo City, and had spent two decades working in Abu Dhabi—like many Filipinos who leave home in search of a better life for their families.
Records from the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), however, show that Muya had not renewed her membership with the agency since 2022.
As authorities work to uncover the truth, her death serves as a painful reminder of the sacrifices made by Filipino workers abroad—and the urgency of protecting those who labor far from home.
