3rd Filipino fatality in New Mexico oil rig blast confirmed

MANILA, Philippines - Another Filipino worker's body had been found, bringing the death toll of Filipinos from the oil rig explosion in Louisiana last November 16 to three.

Philippine Ambassador to United States Jose Cuisia said that Jerome Malapago's body was found on Monday. He said that they did not immediately release any information until the body was positively identified.

Cuisia said that Malagapo’s body was found near an oil platform in the Gulf of Mexico, about 20 miles from the ill-fated platform that he and eight other Filipinos were working on at the time of the incident.

Two more Filipinos were killed and three more were seriously injured by the explosion.

“We are deeply saddened to learn that we lost our compatriot, Jerome Malagapo,” Cuisia announced after he was informed by the Coroner's Office of La Fourche Parish that the remains belonged to the 28-year-old fitter from Danao City, Cebu.

“We console ourselves with the thought that Jerome has been found and will be reunited with his loved ones," Cuisia.

Malagapo's wife, Joanne, his father Francisco and other members of his family have been informed by Cuisia of the positive identification made based on dental records submitted on Tuesday night from the Philippines.

Cuisia said that the authorities were initially planning to take DNA samples from Malapago's father, also an offshore oil worker in Louisiana, to identify the body but Philippine consular officials recommended that dental records be submitted itself.

The recovery of Malagapo came three days after a fellow Filipino worker Avelino Tajonera, a 49-year-old welder from Bataan, died as a result of complications from the serious burns he sustained in the incident.

Another Filipino, Ellroy Corporal, a 42-year-old rigger from Iligan City, also died in the incident.

Two other workers remain in critical condition at the Regional Burn Unit of the Baton Rouge General Hospital while the condition of another, Wilberto Ilagan, a 50-year-old welder from Batangas, continues to improve.