June 29 - The Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) is coordinating the return home of OFW May Membrere Vecina on 30 June 2009 at 8:55 in the morning via Qatar Air.
Vecina is the household service worker who was granted absolute pardon by the Emir of Kuwait through the efforts of the Arroyo government.
Labor Secretary Marianito D. Roque has instructed OWWA to extend all possible assistance to Vecina to facilitate her reintegration into her community.
According to OWWA Administrator Carmelita S. Dimzon, OWWA will extend counseling and other psycho-social services to Vecina upon her arrival.
Aside from the arrival arrangements, OWWA will shoulder the transportation costs of Vecina’s return to her home in Matalam, Cotabato. Vecina will also receive livelihood assistance for a micro-business to start life anew.
Administrator Dimzon disclosed that OWWA had earlier awarded Vecina’s daughter with the Tuloy-Aral grant in 2007, to allow her to continue her studies. Vecina’s son will likewise receive the same educational grant.
Vecina was sentenced to death for killing her six-year-old ward in early 2007. She claimed the physical and mental abuse that she suffered while working with the boy’s family made her temporarily insane.
On representations of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo who sought the help of the Emir of Kuwait, the death sentence was commuted to life imprisonment. On 01 June 2009, the Emir granted Vecina absolute pardon.
