Bodies of 2 NZ quake victims arrive in Iloilo

The bodies of two more victims of last month's magnitude-6.3 quake in New Zealand arrived in Iloilo province Wednesday night. Kin of Mary Louise Amantillo and Valquin Bensurto were emotional upon receiving the remains of their loved ones, radio dzBB's Iloilo affiliate reported Thursday. Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) personnel were also on hand to receive the remains of Amantillo and Bensurto, both 23-year-old registered nurses. But the report quoted OWWA personnel as saying the families of the two may not be entitled to benefits because the victims' visas were for students and not for overseas Filipino workers. Last week, the remains of other Filipino fatalities of the Christchurch, New Zealand quake started arriving. First to arrive were the remains of Jewel Francisco and Erica Nora, which were brought to Manila via Singapore Airlines on March 18. The remains of Ivy Jane Cabunillas arrived last Sunday. Aside from the five whose remains have been brought home, the other Filipino fatalities identified were:

* John Kristoffer Villegas Chua, 24; * Emmabelle Cabahug Anoba, 26; and * Lalaine Collado Agatep, 38.

Still missing as of early Thursday are:

* Jessie Lloyd Redoble; * Ezra Mae Medalle; and * Rhea Mae Sumalpong.

— LBG, GMA News