As seen on the November 2019 issue of the Philippine Sentinel
Migrante Australia, a national alliance of Filipino migrant organisations raises concern over the death of Mhelody Bruno, 25yo, who was reported killed while on holiday in Wagga Wagga, NSW.
The transgender Filipina, had been in Australia for two months, and was due to return home at the end of this week, according to reports in Rappler website.
NSW police reported that Mhelody Bruno was found unresponsive in a home
unit in Tarcutta Street in Wagga Wagga while paramedics conducted CPR before bringing her to hospital. Paramedics stabilised her at the scene, but she died the next morning at Wagga Wagga Base Hospital.
NSW police confirmed a man has been charged following Bruno’s death according to The Guardian .
A 31-year-old Wagga Wagga man was arrested on Sunday afternoon. He
was charged with manslaughter and bailed to appear in Wagga Wagga local
court on November 6.
Mhelody’s brother, Leonel Bruno said his family was pleading with the Philippine authorities to assist with repatriating his sister’s body.
“Our call is for the government to help bring our sister home. I hope they can
help us. There is no one handling our case. We were already expecting her
to come home, but this happened.”
Migrante Australia said in a statement that “the organisation extends its
heartfelt condolences to Mhelody’s family in Surigao Philippines and will do
what we can to assist them in this time of grief and uncertainty.”
Bruno worked in a call centre in Makati City and was a breadwinner for her
family, her brother said.
This is the second time this year that a Filipino died while working in Regional Australia, according to Migrante Australia.
Last March 2019, Jerwin Royupa was killed allegedly after jumping from a vehicle following an altercation with his employer. His death remains
unresolved as of press time. Ω