10 victims known after DNA testing
The long wait is now over for the ten families of victims in the MV Princess of the Stars tragedy as the National Bureau of Investigation with the help of the International Police –Incident Response Team and the International Commission for Missing Persons released the first batch of the DNA test results.
Yesterday, in a simple mass held at the Cosmopolitan Funeral Homes with the relatives already informed, the authorities turned over to the families the bodies after the clearances and the death certificates were signed by Dr. Renato Bautista, head of the NBI-DVI team.
Interpol Secretary General Ronald Noble and the ICMP Director General Kathryne Bomberger attended the event and even talked to the relatives present.
The deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) test results arrived last week from the ICMP headquarters in
The NBI-DVI and Interpol-IRT-ICMP here in
The 300 bodies now being stored at the refrigerated vans at the Cebu International Port include not only the vessel victims but also those from other sunken fishing vessels on the day that typhoon Frank wrought havoc on the Philippine seas.
These ten bodies released yesterday are the first to be identified using the latest DNA testing process.
About 40 of the bodies that were recovered were identified through traditional identification process which is the fingerprinting and dental records and other methods.
The ten bodies claimed by their relatives were all passengers of the sunken MV Princess of the Stars according to Dr. Bautista.
They were identified as Ephraim Tayontong Jr., 36, of Western Poblacion, Poro, Camotes Island, Cebu; Benedict Tibon, 30, of Placencia Cmpd., barangay Tipolo, Mandaue City; Pedro Yurag, 59, of Kawit, Medellin, Cebu; Henry Tiro, 31, of Datag Cansubing, Cordova, Cebu; Eric dela Cruz, Jr., 34, of Martires, Cebu City; Julito Laurente Abaño, 36, of Purok 6, barangay Linao, Ormoc City; Mercedita Escuadro Adolfo, 29, of Calabong, Dumanjug Cebu; Jonathan Gutual Antimaro, 38, of sitio Laguna, barangay Bato Toledo City; Dario Ano-os, 31, of Magay, Daanbantayan, Cebu and Prescilla Tulda, 29, of Magsaubay Maya, Daanbantayan, Cebu.
The relatives claimed the bodies after the requiem mass.
To give the relatives privacy, media were not allowed to cover the event but a press conference was held around
“This is a very important day in the DVI process in the
The foreign official promised that his only goal after his team started the process is to ensure the accurate and dignified identification of those who perished until the last victim is identified.
Noble said right from the start he knew that the Philippine government can not do this by itself alone like what other countries did when they are hit by tragedies, terrorist attacks and other calamities this magnitude.
And the Interpol-IRT with the help of the ICMP, identification of missing persons is one form of assistance they can offer.
Bautista said originally there were 25 DNA test results that arrived, but there are other process that are still being done by the Identification Board for the 15 other results before calling the relatives to come in order to claim the cadavers.
MV Princess of the Stars was on its way to
The ship capsized due to the strong waves. The boat was carrying more than 800 passengers and crew when it sunk.
Only a handful of passengers and crew survived.
Several bodies are still trapped inside the vessel, which is scheduled for retrieval next month after its cargo of toxic endosulfan pesticide is removed this month.
Bomberger for her part said that the process maybe long and slow, but it is the most advance and 99.9 percent accurate as much as DNA testing is concerned.
Bomberger assured that ICMP is using one of the most sophisticated technology of DNA matching in the world that employs a very thorough process performed by 170 IMCP staff members.
Bomberger also praised their Filipino counterparts for making the process easier because of what she described as “superb” professionalism of Filipino DVI teams in handling the situation and the actual process.
Thankful Kin
Narcissa Antimaro, 74 years old, mother of Jonathan Gatual Antimaro said she is thankful that at least her son’s remains have been brought back to them.
Narcissa said they had almost lost hope that her son’s body would still be recovered.
When NBI called them Friday and told them that her son’s body was identified, they felt thankful and relieved since Jonathan can now be given a decent burial.
Jonathan was a beautician in
He’s the third of the 12 children of Narcissa and the one supporting his mother and youngest brother Niruel, who was with Narcissa yesterday to claim Jonathan’s remains.
He was on board the ship as he was heading home for a vacation, which he takes once every two years.
He was also planning to celebrate his birthday on the 24th of June here. — with Jessica Ann R. Pareja/NLQ
- Latest
- Trending
