SAD ENDING
Questions hang on death of Ilonggo seaman in Abu Dhabi

By Florence F. Hibionada

Who, or what killed Federico Nadong-Maestrecampo?

Another sad ending for yet another Ilonggo Overseas Filipino Worker (OFW) who came home in a box Wednesday, months after he was first reported missing.  With the cause of death recorded as “cannot be determined,” his remains was met by grieving family members at the Iloilo airport.  Officials from the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) and the Bureau of Customs here facilitated the release as media queries went unanswered on the “undetermined death.”

A resident of Lacandula Street, Guimbal, Iloilo, Maestrecampo was a returning seafarer bound for Abu Dhabi in his January 11 th departure.  Independent information gathered by The News Today disclosed that three days later, he was already “missing” though no further details was available on the report.  The family apparently had no idea of said seafarer's plight until official notification came in March to the Philippine Embassy in Abu Dhabi of a recovered body found floating by the Arab Strait.  The alert was made by a representative of the United Arab Ministry of Foreign Affairs and upon verification, a leather wallet confirmed the identity as that of the 49 year-old Filipino seaman with his remains turned over to embassy officials in March 4. 

A documented sea-based OFW, Maestrecampo's foreign employer was the Halul Offshore Services Company in Doha, Qatar.  Local manning agency was the Pacific International Shipping Agency Incorporated in Malate, Manila. 

In a phone interview, Rolando Reyes, agency president validated the January 14 th missing report from the marine superintendent in Qatar.  The information was relayed by the ship captain with Maestrecampo a contracted Able Seaman apparently gone missing while in transit to yet another vessel.

In an interview, OWWA Welfare Officer Noel Chavez told The News Today efforts are underway to help the family of the deceased OFW with the life insurance in place for documented workers.  A maximum P220,000 may be extended to the Maestrecampo heirs with his tragic fate job-related or in line of duty.  Corresponding financial benefits will also be given from the company.

As called for by protocol, further exchanges regarding this latest death of an OFW is made through diplomatic channels.  As such, no data is readily available on the reports made, if any, between the January 14 th reported day Maestrecampo first went missing up to the discovery of his body in March. 

He was last home in his hometown Guimbal November of 2004.