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DFA to kin of missing Pinoys: Brace for worst in New Zealand quake


Prepare for the worst. This was what the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Monday advised the relatives of the 11 Filipinos reportedly trapped in the rubble of a building in New Zealand after last week's magnitude-6.3 quake. DFA spokesman Eduardo Malaya said the scenario is now “very grim" especially after rescue teams failed to find survivors. The DFA identified the 11 missing Filipinos as:

  • Jessie Lloyd Redoble
  • John Kristoffer Chua
  • Ezra Mae Medalle
  • Emmabelle Anoba
  • Jewel Francisco
  • Ivy Jane Cabunilas
  • Mary Louise Anne Amantillo
  • Valquin Bensurto
  • Rhea Mae Sumalpong
  • Erica Nora
  • Lalaine Agatep. “Kinonvey agad natin in quick and repeated manner ang request natin, ‘Ipagpatuloy ninyo, ipagpatuloy ninyo’ [ang rescue efforts]," said Malaya in an interview on dwIZ radio on Monday. (We have already conveyed in a quick and repeated manner our request to continue the rescue efforts.) "Pero medyo napapagod sila ang laking problema nila doon since Wednesday last week, wala nang naisalba, wala nang nai-rescue nang buhay since last week. So ang scenario dito very grim at dapat siguro paghandaan ng pamilya yan ang sinabi nila," he said. (However, they are already getting tired because the problem has been to0 extensive since Wednesday last week, they were not able to save anyone, no one was rescued alive since last week. So the scenario is very grim and they said perhaps the families should prepare for the worst.) Malaya said the chance of finding survivors had been shrinking each day. At least 11 Filipinos had been reported missing in last week’s quake. He said a team from the Philippine Embassy is at Christchurch, where the missing Filipinos were based. The best they can do for now is to ask the authorities not to stop their rescue efforts, he said. “Paulit ulit nilang ibanggit sa authorities, huwag itigil ang search-and-rescue dahil ang nanay tatay at kaibigan dito na trapped doon ay nakatanggap ng text messages," he said. (They kept asking the authorities not to end the search-and-rescue operations because of text messages from the missing Filipinos’ relatives at home.) On Sunday, the DFA said 11 Filipinos remain missing in the magnitude-6.3 quake that killed 146 people New Zealand last week. It said one Elisa Torres, who was earlier thought to be Filipino, was determined to be of another nationality. “Arrangements are underway to have the relatives of the 11 missing Filipinos to go to New Zealand to assist in the identification of the fatalities," the DFA said. "The DFA-Office of the Undersecretary for Migrant Workers’ Affairs is coordinating with the New Zealand Embassy in Manila for the issuance of visas, expediting the release of their passports and other requirements for the relatives’ trip," the DFA added. On the other hand, the DFA also said it may take some time before any fatality can be identified. “The remains of those recovered are transported to a military camp in Christchurch, where the identification and processing take three weeks," the DFA said. - VVP, GMA News
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