Overseas Pinoy's death tells of migrants' plight during COVID-19
Government’s direct support is needed
Overseas Filipino’s death is telling of migrant workers’ insecurity amidst COVID-19 crisis
The Asia Pacific Mission for Migrants (APMM) is deeply saddened by the death of Melvin Cacho, an overseas Filipino worker who committed suicide in his apartment in Nonthaburi, Thailand on June 2, 2020. He was 27 years old and at the time of his death was working in a government school under the Chulalongkorn University Nonthaburi Project. We would like to express condolences with the bereaved family and friends of Melvin.
According to suicide notes found in his apartment, his no work-no pay situation has caused Melvin much stress and anxiety. “So stress, anxiety, paranoid, family problem, job problem, money, failed dream. I can’t do this anymore. It hurts,” said one of his notes.
The tragedy of Melvin’s death is telling of migrant workers’ growing insecurity caused by the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. In an online survey that the APMM conducted among Thailand-based Filipinos in April (right after the country was placed under nationwide lockdown), more than half of survey respondents were jobless – either in a no work-no pay situation like Melvin or having lost their job in the process. Such a situation impacts on their livelihood, with many stating inability to pay rent, utilities or even food.
Given this grave situation faced by Filipinos there, Thailand was not included in the list of priority countries to receive from the already problematic financial assistance and relief schemes by the Philippine government. They are part of the many people excluded from any financial assistance from both the Philippine and Thai governments.
The APMM relayed in May the results of the survey with corresponding recommendations to both the Philippine and Royal Thai governments. The Philippine Embassy in Thailand acknowledged our letter.
We call on both governments to assist in the return of Melvin’s remains back to the Philippines with no cost imposed on his family as well as provide immediate financial assistance to his family. We likewise renew our call that direct assistance, may it be in the form of financial support or repatriation, be provided to all Filipinos in Thailand.
No government, let alone their home government, should turn a blind eye on the needs of their people.