Repatriation of Pinay killed in Haiti quake delayed
Due to some glitches, the repatriation of a Filipino woman killed in last monthâs magnitude-7 quake in Haiti was delayed by at least one day. Radio dzBBâs Manny Vargas reported on Friday that the body of Mary Grace Fabian was not loaded on the Philippine Airlines PR-103 flight from Los Angeles that arrived in Manila before 6 a.m. Overseas Workers Welfare Administration head Carmelita Dimzon tried to console the family of Fabian, who went to the Ninoy Aquino International Airport to welcome Mary Graceâs remains. Dimzon said the remains of Fabian may be brought home Saturday, but did not elaborate on the schedule. The Department of Foreign Affairs said earlier this week that Fabianâs remains were to be shipped to Manila from Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. Fabianâs body was pulled out of the collapsed Caribbean Supermarket at 11 a.m. of February 7 in Haiti, or midnight of Feb. 7 in Manila. Lowel Lalican, the husband of Geraldine Lalican, another OFW still trapped under the rubble of the supermarket, identified the Fabianâs remains. Fabian, an employee of the Caribbean Supermarket, was identified through her uniform, hair and necklace. Family's request The DFA had coordinated with the OWWA and Fabianâs family so her remains can be brought home to her family soonest. âWe would like to honor the familyâs request to have her home," DFA Undersecretary for Migrant Workers Affairs Esteban Conejos Jr. said earlier this week. Fabianâs Haiti-based sister Rosalyn had initially instructed that the remains be interred at the National Cemetary in Port-au-Prince. But the DFA said Fabianâs family in the Philippines requested it to have her remains repatriated. Citing a report from the Philippine Embassy in Cuba, the DFA said Philippine officials cleared all Dominican documentary requirements to have Fabianâs remains brought home. - LBG/RSJ, GMANews.TV