Family wants probe on Cebuana's death

Relatives suspect foul play in the death of a 27-year-old Cebuana in Greece last weekend and are asking for assistance from Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) to have the case investigated and to repatriate her remains.

Claudine Gabisan Valkanas reportedly died in a yachting accident, but her family in Cebu, suspect something fishy in the circumstances of her death.

Alma Gabisan, mother of the victim, said yesterday that they learned about the death of Claudine from a close friend of the victim and not her daughter's husband, Etstathlos Valkanas of Perrais, Greece.

The victim's mother told TV Patrol of ABS-CBN Cebu that Claudine's body was cut to pieces after the yacht that the couple was onboard collided with a passenger ship.

"Imposible kaayo nga matagod tagod ang lawas sa akong anak. Ug tarong siya nga bana wala gyud siya mopahibawo namo nga namatay na diay ang akong anak," (It is impossible that my daughter's body would be cut into pieces. If he were a good husband, he would have informed us that my daughter had died) Gabisan said.

It was however also learned that the 51-year-old Greek husband also got hospitalized after the accident.

The couple was married on June 26, 2000 in a church ceremony in Cebu.

Laura Gabisan, younger sister of Claudine, said that the friend of her sister who informed them of the death would not also believe that there was an accident. The younger Gabisan explained that her sister's friend have told them that the couple always had fights.

Laura also said that last month, her sister told her about plans to leave her Greek husband, who is reportedly very jealous.

"Grabe ka seloso si Steve ug magsige lang to sila ug away. Gani gustohan niya nga makabiya sa Greece dili siya makahimo tungod kay wala kuwatra para bayad sa eroplano," (Steve is a very jealous person and they always had a fight. She even wanted to leave Greece, but she could not do so since she had no money to pay for the plane fare) Laura said.

The Gabisan family is set to meet today with DFA-7 director Angel Espiritu to formalize their complaint to have the body repatriated soon.

The victim's mother said they will be asking the government authorities to request for an autopsy to determine the cause of Claudine's death.