Remains of Filipinos who died in Christchurch quake arrived

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A March 20, 2011 press release prepared by the Department of Foreign Affairs

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said today that the remains of Filipinos who perished in the 6.3-magnitude earthquake in Christchurch last February 23 have started arriving in Manila.

First to arrive were the remains of Jewel Francisco and Erica Nora, who arrived in Manila via Singapore Airlines on March 18.  Meanwhile, the remains of Ivy Jane Cabunillas arrived today.  Their remains were accompanied with their families.

A group from the DFA Office of the Undersecretary for Migrant Workers Affairs (DFA-OUMWA) and the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) welcomed them at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport and extended airport courtesies to them.

A team from the DFA’s regional consular office in Cebu was also present to provide assistance to the Cebu-based families.

The DFA-OUMWA and a team from the Philippine Embassy in Wellington are assisting the families of the Filipinos whose remains were already confirmed and those who still remain missing.

Arrangements were made to have the relatives of the Filipinos to go to New Zealand to help in the identification of some of the fatalities.  The DFA-OUMWA coordinated with the New Zealand Embassy in Manila for the visas, expediting the release of their passports and other requirements for the relatives’ trip.

The Embassy dispatched a two-man team to Christchurch to coordinate with authorities as well as look after the welfare of the 2000-strong Filipinos in Christchurch.

The team actively assisted the Filipino community in Christchurch, distributing water purifying tablets and food provisions to them.  They have encouraged the community to avail of counselling and victim support offered by the authorities.

They will remain in Christchurch until all the Filipinos who were missing are accounted for and the families are still in city.

New Zealand police have identified the remains of Mary Louise Anne Amantillo, John Kristoffer Chua, Emmabelle Anoba, Valquin Bensurto and Lalaine Agatep.  The two-man team in Christchurch is facilitating the early repatriation of their remains to the Philippines.

Still missing are Jessie Lloyd Redoble, Ezra Mae Medalle and Rhea Mae Sumalpong