New Zealand authorities on Thursday formally ended efforts to identify the remains of a Filipina and three other victims of the devastating earthquake in Christchurch in February this year but are planning a memorial service for them. In a news release, the police in New Zealand said they met with the families of the four victims and explained that they could not identify them despite their best efforts. "Any traces of DNA have been destroyed by the extremely high temperatures caused by the fire in the CTV building," said acting Chief Coroner Gordon Matenga. "Despite extensive and exhaustive efforts we have been unable to return any remains of their loved ones to these families but we have been able to issue inquest findings that will help them complete the formalities required," he added. According to New Zealand authorities, those who were unidentified were:
Rhea Mae Sumalpong, 25 of the Philippines (Australian resident); Shawn Lucas, 40 (male) of Christchurch; Elsa Torres de Frood, 53 (female) of Peru (NZ resident), and Valeri Volnov, 41, of Russia (NZ resident). All victims were in the CTV building, authorities said. "We are now working with the families and the Christchurch City Council to ensure an appropriate memorial for these four victims is established," Police Inspector Mark Harrison said. Harrison said, “We have been in constant contact with these families during the DVI process to ensure they knew what work was underway to identify their loved ones." "I sat with these families last week and explained to them that we have been unable to do so. They appreciated that Police and the other people working with us had spent the last six months doing everything we could to identify them," he added. Matenga and Harrison said all possible Disaster Victim Identification (DVI) work that can be carried out to identify the remaining victims of the 22 February Christchurch earthquake had been completed. No mention was made of Ezra Mae Medalle, another Filipino earlier reported as missing. Nine Pinoy victims Nine Filipinos were earlier confirmed dead in the magnitude-6.3 quake that hit Christchurch on February 22. These included: Jessie Lloyd Redoble; Lalaine Agatep; Jewel Francisco; Erica Nora; Ivy Jane Cabunillas; Mary Louise Amantillo; Valquin Bensurto. John Kristoffer Villegas Chua Emmabelle Cabahug Anoba - VVP, GMA News 
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