Urgent Press Release 13 August 2008
Concerned Filipinos in Rome, Italy have called on Italian and Philippine authorities to conduct an impartial and thorough investigation into the recent death of Jesusa L. Mendelebar, 42, of Quezon City.
According to initial news reports, Mendelebar, who was in Rome working as a domestic helper barely a year, was found dead in her employers' swimming pool last August 10 at 11:45am. Reports said she was wearing a bathing suit when she was found.
Although Italian police have already ruled out foul play, Mendelebar's close friends doubt the police's conclusion. Umangat spokesperson Ann Brusola said, citing friends of Mendelebar, that the victim could not have died accidentally saying Mendelebar was a good swimmer. Brusola also said the victim had only spent four days with her new employers (she reportedly just left her first employers) and was supposed to be working on the day she supposedly took a dive in the pool. She wouldn't even dare use her employers' pool, Brusola stressed.
Brusola also expressed strong disappointment over the failure of Italian authorities and Philippine embassy officials to disclose the initial autopsy findings on Mendelebar, and for her friends to see her body before it is repatriated to the Philippines.
Philippine embassy officials in Rome have reportedly taken cared of repatriation of the remains of Mendelebar. Migrante International, meanwhile, is coordinating with Mendelebar's friends in Rome to inform her family in the Philippines.
Brusola stressed, however, that unless an impartial and thorough investigation into the circumstances of Mendelebar's death is undertaken, suspicions would linger on the possible involvement of her employers on her death, and a possible cover-up of the Italian and Philippine authorities.
For reference:
Ann Brusola
UMANGAT
Rome, Italy
Mobile: +393389127951
Alex Gregorio
MIGRANTE Europe
Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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