DMW Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac meets the family of Gerome De Castro in Tarlac, Philippines on November 5, 2025. DMW

Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac personally visited the family of Gerome Zarate De Castro, a Filipino worker who died under mysterious circumstances in Cyprus. During his visit to the family’s home in Tarlac on Wednesday (November 5), Cacdac extended condolences and assured them of full government support, vowing  that the DMW, together with the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) and the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), will pursue a thorough investigation to uncover the truth behind De Castro’s death. “The Secretary assured that aside from financial assistance, the department and OWWA will continue to provide support — including education for the children, livelihood aid, insurance benefits, and legal assistance to determine the true cause of death,” the DMW said in a statement on Thursday (November 6). De Castro, who worked for City of Dreams Cyprus for three years, was found critically injured outside his apartment in Limassol on September 28 and later died in hospital. Initially believed to have fallen from his balcony, forensic pathologists later determined he died from hemorrhagic shock due to internal bleeding and stab-like wounds, inconsistent with a fall. Following these findings, Cyprus police reclassified the case as premeditated murder and arrested a 26-year-old suspect, identified as De Castro’s partner. De Castro’s remains were repatriated on October 29 through the joint efforts of the DMW, OWWA, and the Philippine Embassy. As an active OWWA member, his family received P200,000 in death benefits and educational assistance for his child under the ELAP program. OWWA Administrator Patricia Yvonne Caunan said, “The family is also eligible for other OWWA programs, including livelihood support.” Authorities in Cyprus continue to investigate the case. CAM/Expat Media
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