Is Lorna Tolentino's employer hiding something?

-Ashes flown to the Philippines on February 3.


By Alex P. Vidal

Despite threats from Lorna Tolentino's former employer, I personally pursued this case and interviewed Philippine Consul General Jose "Joey" Ampeso in his office in the Philippine Consulate General on Pender Street last January 30.

VANCOUVER, British Columbia -- Philippine Consul General Jose Ampeso has confirmed reports the former employer of the late nanny and caregiver Lorna Tolentino was "uncooperative and it seems she was hiding something."
Ampeso said six months before Tolentino, 39, succumbed to cervical cancer in Burnaby on New Year's day, she had not renewed her registration with the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) and, thus, she was not able to avail financial assistance from the Philippine government as overseas contract worker.
For its duly registered members, OWWA reportedly delivers a wide range of health care, disability and death benefits, scholarships and financial assistance for education and training, workers assistance and on-site services, and social services and family welfare assistance subject to the qualification requirements and availability of OWWA funds.


BENEFITS


Under OWWA's programs and services, all benefits and services are over and above the provisions of the employment contract, offer of employers, or the laws of the receiving country.
For a US$25 membership contribution, an OWWA member and/or his family is entitled to the following benefits and services: social benefits, insurance benefits, burial benefit, disability and dismemberment benefits, total disability benefit, medical rehabilitation.
Tolentino died in the hospice without the presence of any family member. 
Efforts to bring her body to San Miguel, Bulacan in the Philippines failed due to lack of funds.
She was cremated last January 17.
"I don't want to talk about the employer anymore because it seems parang may tinatago (the employer must be hiding something)," Ampeso said in an exclusive interview in his office on Pender St. January 30.


EMPLOYER


Ampeso identified the employer as Elizabeth Mahilan. "Although she has talked directly to Lorna's family in the Philippines, she wanted everything to be in private," Ampeso added. 
The employer did not have to spend for Tolentino's medical and cremation expenses because they were shouldered by the St. Mary's Parish Church and Migrante B.C., according to the consul general.
On February 3, Ampeso will send off in the Vancouver International Airport in Richmond Tolentino's ashes which will be brought to the Philippines by Dr. Dan Vargas of the Canadian Medical Mission Society.
"I will have to make sure as representative of the Philippine Government that Lorna Tolentino's mortuary certificate has been officially turned over to Dr. Vargas before the departure," Ampeso said. "As to the employer, I will not deal with her anymore. 
Mahilan had warned the media, including this writer, not to write anything about Tolentino "or I will sue you."