Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto Romulo yesterday assured that government officers are working on the return of the remains of a Bacoleña found dead in Oman to the Philippines.

This was disclosed by Bacolod Rep. Monico Puentevella yesterday, who said Bacolod Mayor Evelio Leonardia had requested him to help following the death of his niece Johanna Cel "Binky" Leonardia, 31.

Puentevella said an autopsy report has also been sought to determine the cause of death.

Rep. Carlos Cojuangco (Neg. Occ., 4th district) and numerous other government officials have also been assisting the Leonardia family in finding out what happened to Johanna Cel.

The niece of the mayor, who is the daughter of Central Negros Electric Cooperative director Cesar Leonardia and Cecilia Montilla Leonardia, was found dead in Oman Sunday after she had been reported missing by her employer the day before.

She had been working at the communications department of the Shangrila's Barr Al Jissah Resort and Spa in the Sultanate of Oman since September last year.

The Omani police found her body Sunday noon approximately seven kilometers from the hotel where she worked and are still investigating the cause of death, a statement from the family said.

The last time Leonardia was seen was Saturday morning when she was preparing to go to work.

When her companions at their flat returned home Saturday evening and did not see Leonardia, they called the hotel to ask where she was and that was when they discovered that she failed to report for work that day, the statement said. This prompted her employer to seek police help.*CPG

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