An organization of Filipino domestic workers in the New York area has expressed concern and questions over the reported suicide of a Filipina domestic worker in the Bronx.

Felisa “Fely” Garcia, 58, was found hanging inside her closet by her landlady on March 14.

Garcia reportedly left four suicide letters in an envelope in the kitchen for her landlady to find. One of the letters allegedly claimed of “abuse and harassment” from her employer, who remains unnamed.

The Queens-based Kabalikat Domestic Workers Support Network is currently helping members of the Garcia family, who are based in Batangas, to find out more about her death and her allegations of abuse.

Kabalikat (literally means shoulder-to-shoulder) scheduled a town hall meeting on April 2, to inform the public of recent developments concerning the Garcia’s case.

Garcia’s family and leaders of Kabalikat also expressed concern over the failure of the Philippine consulate in New York to disclose to the family the results of the investigation into the Filipina’s death conducted by the New York Police Department.

“Fely’s family and the Filipino community have a right to know what happened to her,” said Lorena Sanchez, co-coordinator of Kabalikat. “Fely’s letter and the nature of her death call for a community action.”

Sanchez said Kabalikat will call for an autopsy and an investigation into her claim of abuse.

“We cannot allow this incident to be swept underneath the rug, like many cases of distressed Filipino migrants. She was clearly crying for help,” Sanchez said.

Members of Kabalikat met with Garcia’s landlord last week, and talked over the phone with Garcia’s family in Batangas and next of kin here in the United States.

Garcia’s family said they were never contacted by the Philippine consulate to discuss Garcia’s death and legal procedures. Garcia left behind four children whom she supported by working as a domestic worker in New York.

In a phone conference with Kabalikat, Fely’s eldest son, Gabriel Garcia, said his family is frustrated over “being kept in the dark” about his mother’s death.

Garcia’s children have also expressed a desire to fly to New York to settle legal procedures themselves, and not leave everything to the Philippine consulate.

“The family obviously wants justice, not silence,” Sanchez added. “We support Fely’s family as they push for a criminal investigation of Fely’s employer and examination of her body for abuse.”

Kabalikat leaders also said that Garcia’s landlady will be present at the meeting to explain the case. A message from Garcia’s family in Batangas will be read.

The community meeting also aims to raise funds to help relieve burial and transportation expenses of the Garcia family.

Julia Camagong, co-executive director of Philippine Forum, challenged the Philippine Consulate to exert efforts to ensure the speedy release of the autopsy report and call on the NYPD to investigate Garcia’s allegation of abuse.

“Throughout the world, Philippine consulates and embassies appear more interested in quickly closing these types of cases of maltreatment and distress than actually offering assistance for victims of abuse, like Fely, and pursuing justice,” Camagong said.” The orientation of our consular offices abroad is not to help migrants with their basic problems, but help them remit their earnings back to the Philippines.”