DFA : 11 Pinoys still missing in NZ quake

MANILA, Philippines – Eleven Filipinos have remained missing in the aftermath of a 6.3-magnitude earthquake that struck Christchurch, New Zealand last week, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said Sunday.



The earthquake has killed 146 people so far.

The DFA said a certain Elisa Torres, who remained missing and was thought to be Filipino, was determined to be of another nationality.

The missing Filipinos are Jesse Lloyd Redoble, John Christopher Chua, Ezea Mae Medalle, Emmabel Anova, Jewel Francisco, Ivy Jane Cabunillas, Mary Louise Anne Amantillo, Valquin Bensurto, Rhea Mae Sumalpong, Erica Nora, and Lalaine Agatep.



Through the DFA Office of the Undersecretary for Migrant Workers Affairs (DFA-OUMWA) and the Regional Consular Office (RCO) in Cebu, Charge d’Affaires (CDA) in Wellington Giovanni Palec conducted a telephone conference Saturday with the Cebu-based families of the 5 missing Filipinos believed trapped in the rubble of the CTV building.

Palec informed them on the latest updates from New Zealand police and other officials and the initiatives undertaken by his team.

No person has been rescued alive since last Wednesday.

The parents of 2 missing Filipinos arrived Saturday in Christchurch.

New Zealand authorities are refusing to identify those who perished until they have recovered the bodies and verified their identities through DNA testing.

Police have also yet to release a consolidated list of missing persons with their nationalities, despite repeated requests by New Zealanders and other families searching for answers regarding the status of missing loved ones.

The remains of those recovered are transported to a military camp in Christchurch, where the identification and processing will take around 3 weeks.

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 in a press statement.

The Philippine embassy team arrived in Christchurch on February 23 to coordinate efforts with authorities, as well as look after the welfare of the 2,000-strong Filipinos in Christchurch.

Philippine officials had repeatedly asked and prodded rescue officials to continue on with the search, given the text messages that were sent by a number of missing Filipinos immediately after the quake.

source: abs cbn