4th Pinoy confirmed killed in Bahrain boat accident

The Philippine embassy in Bahrain confirmed yesterday that a fourth Filipino national, who was reported missing after the Al Dana tourist boat capsized off the coast of Bahrain on Thursday, died in the accident.

Ambassador to Bahrain Eduardo Pablo Maglaya reported to the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Office of the Undersecretary for Migrant Workers (OUMWA) the death of Nenita Jacob Bari after the body was identified by the Philippine Embassy’s Assistance-to-Nationals Officer Ramon Nerida, with the assistance of Filipino co-workers.

The OUMWA immediately informed Danilo Jabor, Bari’s brother, whom the DFA invited yesterday morning to a briefing.

While the family has allowed the disclosure of the victim’s name to the media, the DFA is respecting the family’s request for privacy so they could grieve in private.

Bari was one of three Filipino crewmembers on the ill-fated Al Dana tourist boat. The two others were Lanette Salgado, who was one of the seven survivors of the accident, and Quennie Aboboto Dunca, one of the four fatalities.

The DFA earlier identified the three fatalities as Norman Belardo, Edwin Felipe Batacan and Dunca.

Foreign Affairs spokesman Gilberto Asuque said Nerida informed the DFA that the four Filipinos were among the 57 bodies recovered by the Bahrain Coast Guard. At least 11 bodies have not yet been identified.

The fatalities were from South Africa, United Kingdom, Pakistan, Ireland, India, Germany and the Philippines.

Asuque said there were 67 survivors, including seven Filipinos identified as Hyacinth Dacay Perez, Abigail Silva, Pamela Belardo, Lilia Hermoso, Bayani Hermoso, Lanette Salgado and Segunda Siena.

Perez, Silva and Belardo were treated for minor injuries at the Salmaniya Medical Complex while four other survivors have returned to their homes in Manama. — Pia Lee Brago