Canadian police sees foul play

BAGUIO CITY (Jan. 25) — Another Overseas Filipino Worker (OFW) from the Cordillera was reportedly killed in Canada Thursday, while Zennia Aguilan, the therapist killed in Afghanistan, is laid to rest at the Sagada cemetery Friday.

Arcelie Laoagan, 40, was killed at 10:30 P.M., Thursday near the Franklin LRT station in Calgary, Canada. Canadian police claimed they found Laoagan’s body Friday and that she died of foul play. Police added she was identified by her family Tuesday the following week despite heavy beating allegedly causing facial distortions.

Media reports in Calgary showed medical examiners withheld the cause of Laoagan’s death as it might jeopardize the investigation.

Laoagan was a five week employee of a document-scanning company West Canadian Graphics, said Jane Mugford, vice-president of the company. She added they set up a $10,000 trust fund to help the Laoagan family.

“The news came like a nightmare,” said Oswald Sombrito,Laoagan’s brother who works in Toronto, Canada. They reportedly went to Calgary with her two sisters and identified Laoagan.

Cordilleran

A national daily newspaper reported earlier that Laoagan is a native of Sagada.

Sagada Mayor Eduardo Latawan Sr., however said authorities are still checking if the victim is from the area. Regardless of Laoagan’s place of origin, the mayor urged for immediate justice for her and Aguilan.

Nordis also learned the victim is not related to Judge Agapito Laoagan who hails from Bokod, Benguet.

The Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA)-Cordillera records showed that Laoagan’s recruitment agency is based in La Trinidad, Benguet.

Undocumented OFW?

Laoagan was documented by the Philippine Embassy in Hongkong on February 27, 2004, OWWA – Cordillera Regional Director Milagros Pena claimed. She, however, said OWWA has no record s on Laoagan’s transfer to Canada.

Laoagan is survived by her husband and five children in the Philippines, according to Canada media reports. She is the second Cordilleran OFW killed abroad this year.

Sagada therapist laid to rest

Aguilan, killed in Kabul, Afghanistan when a suicide bomber blew himself in January was brought home to Sagada midnight, January 13 after a brief wake at the Twin Chapel of the Cathedral of the Resurrection, in Baguio City.

In Sagada, a mass was held Friday at the Church of St. Mary the Virgin before Aguilan is buried at the Sagada cemetery. Prior to the burial, elders and villagers rendered bayao (chants for death) where they urged justice for her death.

A valedictorian at Sagada’s Saint Mary’s School in 1993, Aguilan had worked in Taiwan and Dubai before she went to Canada in June 2007. # Arthur L. Allad-iw for NORDIS