Press Release: The Latest on Rolando Cortez

TO: All Filipino
From: Rev. Fr. Marce Singson, from the Catholic Filipino-Australian Chaplaincy of Brisbane, Australia..

RE: Update on the late Rolly Cortez

To level off the information for everyone, Rolly Cortez, 52 years old, arrived in Australia two years ago under visa 457 as a welder. He hailed from Kumintang Ilaya, Batangas City, with 6 children. On 21st May he was rushed to PA hospital owing to massive heart stroke. I visited him at PA Hospital on 23rd May to give him the last rite; and few hours after that, he passed away.

The repatriation of his body back to the Philippines has been dragged because of the slow response of the Philippine government; and also because of the proper investigation of the legality of his current employment. The delay of sending the body would also mean prolonging the agony and anguish of the bereaved family.

I have frequent communication with Rolly’s wife, Macrina, in Batangas. Few days after Rolly’s death on May 23, Macrina sought help from OWWA (Overseas Workers Welfare Administration) office in Manila. OWWA told her to return back to the said office on June 12 for its decision. She returned as advised and she was told that OWWA will shoulder all expenses for the repatriation of the body and that OWWA will send the money to Philippine Embassy in Canberra.

Macrina wanted to make sure that the ball starts rolling as promised by OWWA and so she went back to the office on Monday (16 June) but only to find out that OWWA entrusted the financing of repatriation to DFA (Department of Foreign Affairs) and that OWWA will just refund DFA later. In short, she was just pushed from one department to the next….a typical Philippine style!

Macrina also expressed her anguish and sadness because since the death of her husband (May 23) until now she has not received any single word from Philippine Embassy in Canberra nor from any Philippine government agencies in Australia, even just a word of consolation and assurance.

On 17 June, Philippine Embassy in Canberra informed us that the money is now at hand. It is supposedly the role of the Phil government to run the business of repatriating the body. But Reena asked me this afternoon if I could do it. I accepted the responsibility (with the written authorization from Macrina and the Philippine Consulate of Brisbane) only because I wanted a speedy action of sending the body back to Philippines.

Of course I have to do it with diplomacy, that means, in coordination with the Philippine government, the Queensland government, the PA Hospital, the Funeral Service in Brisbane and Philippines, the airline, and above all, the family of Rolly in Batangas. According to the Funeral Director (KM Smith) it might take more than one week before Rolly’s body leaves Brisbane airport because of legalities. I will be very busy then….dealing with all these protocols until Rolly finally takes his last flight to Philippines.

I have been inundated by a lot of phone calls by Filipinos even late at night asking about Rolly and his family’s situation. And I embrace all these “ringings” joyfully because this is a clear sign that Filipinos do care! During the gathering of Filipino Skilled Workers on 31 May, we passed the hat and we raised $1,808.80. On June 8, after our holy mass at Barrio Fiesta, I also ordered to pass the hat and we got $1,191.50. And there were some few groups and individuals who opened their hearts for the cause.

As of 19th June, the Filipino Chaplaincy has received the total donation of $7,043.30. In my phone conversation with Macrina on 17 June she prefers that the chaplaincy should keep the money and send it only when Rolly’s body leaves Australia because she said the money that the Philippine government promised might not be enough for the repatriation and so we can use some of the donations when the need arises. I entrusted all donations to Efren Altez, our chaplaincy coordinator.

Macrina also told me that the current employer of Rolly will send money for her husband’s annual leave pay, plus his last salary pay. One authority in Brisbane also informed me that in the next few months Macrina will receive an amount of about $4,000.00 for superannuation.

By the way, I would like to clear up the minds of everyone that based on the findings of an investigation, Rolly made a good exit from his original employer, Ric Ayala (Transafe Engineering). Nothing was seen as illegal nor inhuman treatment from the employer. Result of the investigation also shows that we cannot legally hunt against the current employer of Rolly, an Australian, simply because Rolly was NOT sponsored by his new boss.

As to the personal belongings of Rolly, two generous Filipinos offered to send the stuff by balikbayan box free of charge. His valuable items (jewelries, mobile phones,etc.) will be personally brought to Philippines by Nora Altez (wife of Efren our Chaplaincy coordinator) on June 17; and each will be itemized with the signature of both the endorser to the endorsee to make it sure that things are clear in the eyes of everyone. Nora and Macrina will meet at a certain place in Manila on June 18 to properly endorse the items.

In behalf of the bereaved family of Rolly in Batangas, I and the Filipino Chaplaincy would like to express our sincere THANK YOU for all those who opened their hearts to help console the family through your generosity. I do believe Rolly is very happy of what we have been doing for him and for his family. In always include him in my daily mass. May he rest in peace. Amen!


Fr. Marce Singson
Chaplain, Filipino Community, Brisbane.
Phone +61 431042603