By I. Inojales | 10:48 PM February 11, 2026
TAGBILARAN CITY — A Boholana overseas Filipino worker (OFW) has died in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, after reportedly testing positive for influenza, authorities and family members said.
Katrina Sajulga, 28, from Barangay Abachanan, Sierra Bullones, was declared dead on Sunday in a hospital in the Saudi capital. Initial information indicated that she suffered cardiac arrest, with the viral infection said to have significantly affected her lungs and heart.
Sajulga, a first-time OFW, had been looking forward to returning home in May for a scheduled vacation after months of working abroad, according to her relatives.
Her family also revealed that she had shared distressing experiences involving her employer. She allegedly described her employer as strict and claimed she was at times required to work even without meals.
Prior to her hospitalization, Sajulga reportedly complained of fever, cough, and colds. Despite feeling unwell, she was allegedly instructed to lift a heavy cabinet by herself from the first floor to the third floor of the residence where she worked.
She is survived by three children, who are now under the care of her elderly father in Sierra Bullones.
The recruitment agency has provided financial assistance to the bereaved family, while personnel from the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) have visited their residence to extend support and assess additional aid.
The repatriation of her remains is expected to take between one and three months pending further medical examination by Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Health.
Officials said that if tests confirm the presence of the Nipah virus, her remains may not be permitted to be brought back to the Philippines, further deepening the family’s anguish.
