THE Overseas Workers Welfare Administration confirmed yesterday that the three Filipinas who perished in the fire at the Villagio Mall in Doha, Qatar were all undocumented overseas Filipino workers. 

OWWA chief Carmelita Dimzon said that Margie Yecyec, Maribel Orosco-Aban and Julie Ann Soco, all of them  pre-school teachers,  presented  themselves during their departure at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport  as tourists to be allowed to go abroad.

“Although we found them to be undocumented workers, the family and relatives of the victims will not get any benefits but the government will help them to repatriate their remains. They all left the country using visit and business visas,” Dimzon said.

Aside from assisting in the repatriation of the remains of Yecyec, Aban and Soco, OWWA will also provide stress debriefing to their families.

The three OFWs died of asphyxiation from the fire that struck  the Gympanzee Nursery School where they worked. The school is located inside the Villagio Mall in Doha.

Their families are now waiting for the Philippine embassy to contact them for the repatriation of their remains.

Meanwhile, another Filipino, identified as Michael Orosco, brother of one of the fatalities, was seriously injured in the fire.

He is now confined at the hospital and latest reports said he suffered major burns on the body.

Source:http://www.journal.com.ph/index.php/ofw/30935-3-pinays-killed-in-doha-fire-had-tourist-visas