Abu dhabi: The Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) vowed to repatriate the body of an overseas Filipino worker (OFW) who died in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). In an interview with OWWA Administrator Patricia Yvonne Caunan in Pasay City on Friday, she said Mary Jill Dela Cerna Muya, 44, of Barangay Cubay in Jaro, Iloilo City, was found dead inside her room in Abu Dhabi on Dec. 31, 2025. Caunan stated that the repatriation of Muya's remains has to follow a process as clearances must first be obtained.

According to Philippines News Agency, Caunan emphasized that an investigation is required, and necessary clearances from the host government must be secured before proceeding with the repatriation. She assured that once these are cleared, OWWA will not hesitate to act, as the family awaits the return of Muya's remains. Caunan highlighted the family's call for justice and expressed OWWA's support in their quest.

OWWA is coordinating efforts with the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW), the Migrant Workers Office (MWO), and the Philippine Embassy in the UAE regarding the case. Earlier statements from the Philippine Embassy in Abu Dhabi indicated that the MWO is handling Muya's case and is awaiting notification for the issuance of a death notification from the Baniyas Central Mortuary.

Caunan mentioned that OWWA welfare officers in the region are in regular contact with Muya's family. The family is concerned about a thorough investigation of the incident, as they had spoken with Muya recently and expressed doubts about the circumstances of her death. Muya's records indicate that she became an OFW in the UAE in 2011, and her last renewal of OWWA membership was in 2022, with employment as a filing clerk in the UAE.