The Philippine Online Chronicles

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) and the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) are working to obtain the medical and dental records of 11 Filipinos still missing after the magnitude-6.3 quake which struck Christchurch, New Zealand last month.

“Charge d'Affaires (CDA) in Wellington Giovanni Palec has reported the New Zealand police are gathering pieces of evidence including personal belongings (e.g., the last clothes worn, etc.) to verify identities – through DNA testing – those who perished,” said the DFA’s Office of the Undersecretary for Migrant Workers Affairs (DFA-OUMWA) in a statement in its website.

“New Zealand authorities would not release the identities of those who perished unless and until they have recovered the bodies and verified their identities," it added.

The 11 missing Filipinos are:

• Jessie Lloyd Redoble
• John Kristoffer Chua
• Ezra Mae Medalle
• Emmabel Anoba
• Jewel Francisco
• Ivy Jane Cabunilas
• Mary Louise Anne Amantillo
• Valquin Bensurto
• Rhea Mae Sumalpong
• Erica Nora
• Lalaine Collado Agatep.

Their families have been asked to provide their medical and dental records to help in their identification.

“The [Philippine Embassy team] is directly and regularly in touch with the relatives of the 11 Filipinos who remain missing in the aftermath of the [earthquake],” the statement added, referring to the team sent to New Zealand to look after the 2,000 Filipinos in Christchurch.

“The DFA-OUMWA is also continuously assisting them by ensuring that [the families of those missing] are provided regular updates about the ongoing efforts done by the Embassy team in Christchurch,” it added.

It also said that the Embassy team “continues to assist the Filipino community in Christchurch, distributing water purifying tablets and food provisions to them.  They are also encouraging the community to avail of counseling and victim support offered by the authorities.”

According to the DFA, “no person has been rescued alive since last week.”