CEBU CITY -- Kuwaiti police want to speak with a Cebuana overseas worker's American boyfriend, as they prepare to wrap up an investigation on her death.
Another contract worker reportedly saw Juvy Montesoso, 32, with her boyfriend on the night before she was found dead at the base of an eight-floor building.
Relatives of Montesoso also clarified she was still covered by the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (Owwa) at the time of her death last August 5, contrary to an earlier report quoting the local Owwa office.
The Kuwaiti police are waiting to hear from Sergeant Major Thomas Milliken, the American serviceman who was reportedly dating Montesoso.
Cynthia Tecson-Ricaplaza, officer-in-charge of the Department of Foreign Affairs Regional Consular Office in Cebu, wrote a letter to Rochelle Montesoso, Juvy's sister.
In it, she informed the family that Fahad Al Azmi, the officer on the Montesoso case, turned over Juvy's personal belongings to Daligdig Tanandato.
Tanandato reportedly heads the Philippine Embassy in Kuwait's unit in charge of assisting nationals. He learned from Al Azmi that the local police "had yet to hear the side of the deceased Filipina's American boyfriend."
Al Azmi also asked Tanandato to provide the names of Filipinos who might have more information.
A cousin and fellow overseas worker, Gerlie Bolo, reportedly told Tanandato that another Filipina saw Montesoso and her boyfriend around 10:30 p.m. last August 4. (The Filipina's full name could not be confirmed as of press time.)
Bolo also stated that Montesoso had sent money to her relatives in the Philippines through the Al Mullah Exchange at 10 p.m. that same day.
Rochelle told Sun.Star that the family received the money on August 5, the same morning when Juvy's body was found.
"The Tala Tower has a CCTV camera that may have captured the deceased and her American boyfriend," Ricaplaza quoted Gerlie in her letter.
Ricaplaza also described Milliken as non-commissioned-officer who is in charge of assisting the US Army Corps of Engineers assigned to Iraq and Afghanistan.
Meanwhile, the Owwa in Kuwait updated Owwa Administrator Carmelita Dimzon on Montesoso's membership status and certified that her family is entitled to death benefits.
"The late OFW paid her Owwa membership in Owwa Kuwait last June 20," the communication stated.
This was contrary to a statement from the Owwa in Cebu, which said in an initial interview with Sun.Star that they have no records of a recent payment from the OFW. They received the update last August 11.
The initial information was that the woman's membership expired last January.
Cebu Governor Gwen Garcia has promised to assist the Montesoso family and her office is coordinating with concerned agencies.
The Cebuana contract worker was found dead near a basketball court and was believed to have fallen from the eighth floor of a hotel in Fintas. The last time she came home was in June, for a vacation. (OCP/Sun.Star Cebu)
