6th Pinoy victim in New Zealand quake identified

MANILA, Philippines -  New Zealand police have identified the sixth Filipino who died in the 6.3 magnitude earthquake that struck Christchurch last month.

The authorities said Emmabelle Cabahug Anoba, 26, was the latest Filipino identified.

The police identified earlier Valquin Descalsota Bensurto, 23, as among those killed in the earthquake last Feb. 22.

The other fatalities were Lalaine Collado Agatep, 38; Erica Nora, 20; Ivy Jane Cabunilas, 33; and Jewel Jose Francisco, 26.

The five Filipinos who remain missing are Jessie Lloyd Redoble, John Kristoffer Chua, Ezra Mae Medalle, Mary Louise Anne Amantillo, and Rhea Mae Sumalpong.

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) is coordinating with the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to facilitate the gathering of fingerprints of the Filipinos.

The fingerprints will be brought to Christchurch to help identify the missing Filipinos.

Relatives of the missing were also requested to secure dental records and other medical records to help in their identification in Christchurch.

The DFA has forwarded to Christchurch the information about the Filipinos that are available at the DFA Office of Consular Affairs database.