Katrina Sajulga, an OFW from Bohol, mysteriously died in Saudi Arabia. (Contributed photo)
The family of an overseas Filipino worker who died Feb. 8, 2026 in Saudi Arabia is demanding an investigation into her death, citing suspected foul play and alleged neglect by her employer.
Katrina Sajulga, a resident of Barangay Abachanan in Sierra Bullones, Bohol, died at a Riyadh hospital, leaving behind three children.
She was working her first overseas contract and had been scheduled to return home in April or May after completing her two-year employment agreement.
Sajulga’s father, Anastacio, said his daughter was admitted to the hospital Feb. 6 with fever symptoms.
Hospital officials attributed her death to pneumonia, but the family disputes this account, pointing to her sudden deterioration and photographs circulating on social media that appear to show bruises on her body.
According to reports, Sajulga’s employer and recruitment agency allegedly provided inadequate care during her hospitalization.
The exact circumstances surrounding her admission and death remain unclear, with conflicting reports citing influenza, cardiac arrest and pneumonia as possible causes.
The last contact between Sajulga and her father occurred during Tropical Storm Basyang, when she inquired about conditions in Bohol.
Anastacio Sajulga said he responded, but received no further communication from his daughter.
The Overseas Workers Welfare Administration is processing paperwork to repatriate Sajulga’s remains to Bohol.
Rogelio Gultian, public employment services officer of Sierra Bullones, said he and OWWA representatives visited the family’s home to provide assistance.
The local government has coordinated with the Department of Migrant Workers through OWWA to facilitate the return of Sajulga’s body.
OFW Abuse in Middle East
The case bares ongoing ordeals about the treatment of Filipino domestic workers in Middle Eastern countries, particularly Saudi Arabia, which hosts an estimated 800,000 Filipino workers.
Rights groups have documented numerous cases of Filipino workers, especially domestic helpers, suffering physical abuse, non-payment of wages, passport confiscation and denial of medical care by employers in Gulf states.
The kafala sponsorship system in Saudi Arabia ties workers’ legal status to their employers, leaving many vulnerable to exploitation with limited recourse.
In recent years, several high-profile deaths of Filipino workers in the Middle East have raised questions about employer accountability and the effectiveness of Philippine government protections.
Cases have included workers found dead under suspicious circumstances, with families disputing official causes of death.
The Philippine government has implemented various measures to protect OFWs, including mandatory insurance coverage and bilateral labor agreements with host countries.
However, advocates say enforcement remains weak and workers often face barriers to reporting abuse or seeking help while abroad.
The Department of Migrant Workers, established in 2022, was created specifically to strengthen protections for the country’s approximately 10 million overseas workers, who send billions of dollars in remittances annually that are crucial to the Philippine economy.