Bodies of 2 Pinoys recovered in Haiti

MANILA, Philippines - Two Filipinos have been found dead in Haiti following last week’s massive earthquake, the country’s first fatalities in the disaster, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) confirmed yesterday.

The body of Jerome Yap, an executive assistant to the deputy head of the United Nations mission, was found late Monday in the ruins of the Christopher Hotel, which had housed the UN headquarters in Haiti, DFA officials said in a radio interview.

A few hours later, a military statement announced that the body of a female Filipino soldier, Pearly Panangui, was recovered from the same destroyed building.

Four other Filipinos – including two UN peacekeepers and two women working in a supermarket – are still missing, officials said.

“After nearly seven days, Philippine Navy Data Processor-3 (DP3) Panangui’s lifeless body was recovered under the rubble of the UN headquarters building at Port-au-Prince in Haiti at about 5:20 a.m.,” Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Lt. Col. Romeo Brawner announced.

Full military honors (posthumous) and a hero’s welcome await Panangui.

“She had faithfully served the Navy for eight years and had proven herself as an asset to the organization before she volunteered for the UN mission. She did the Navy and the AFP proud,” Navy chief Vice Admiral Ferdinand Golez said.

“Let her passing remind us of the heroism of the Filipino soldier - a single individual who made the ultimate sacrifice while sharing the commitment of her nation to international peace and security,” he added.

Brawner added Filipino peacekeepers with the assistance of soldiers from other countries are still digging through the rubble to look for Air Force Sgt. Janice Arocena and Army Sgt. Eustacio Bermudez.

Jolly person

Panangui’s batchmate, Senior Navy Officer I (SN-1) Gilbert Atienza, described her as jolly but disciplined.

After finishing her Navy training, Panangui was assigned to various positions in the Philippine Navy where she earned medals in the Mindanao-Sulu campaign and the anti-dissidence campaign.

Manuela Panangui, Pearlie’s mother, is heartbroken over her daughter’s death.

She said Pearlie chose to be assigned to Haiti to earn more and save for the renovation of their house.

“It was really her dream to complete the house for us to have our own home,” Mrs. Panangui said tearfully. Meanwhile, the other casualty, Jerome Yap spent his last Christmas in the Philippines with loved ones and relatives.

He worked in Haiti for the last three years as executive assistant to the deputy representative of the UN Secretary General and remained single because of dedication to his work.

Jerome flew back to New York City on Jan. 8 for a connecting flight to Haiti and arrived on Jan. 11, the day before the massive earthquake struck.

RP donates $50,000 to Haiti

President Arroyo has approved a $50,000 humanitarian assistance to Haiti to assist in ongoing recovery efforts there.

Mrs. Arroyo approved the financial contribution upon the recommendation of Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto Romulo.

Mrs. Arroyo also approved the dispatch of a Department of Health-led medical team to Port-au-Prince this week. 

Meanwhile, the United Nations World Food program (WFP) issued a global appeal to leaders across the world to donate 100 million ready-to-eat meals so that WFP can sustain this lifeline of food for the hungry in the first phase of the emergency in Haiti.

DFA Undersecretary for Migrant Workers’ Affairs Esteban Conejos Jr. said in a press briefing that rescue efforts for the four missing Filipinos continue.

Two of the missing, overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) Grace Fabian and Geraldine Lalican, are believed trapped at the collapsed Caribbean Supermarket.

“We will continue to conduct search and rescue efforts to find them,” Conejos said. “We are making sure that all of them are safe.”

There are at least 462 Filipino workers and peacekeepers in Haiti.

A Filipino community leader in Haiti reported to the task force overseeing conditions of the Filipinos in Haiti that 28 more countrymen are safe. The list provided by Tony Duran follows:

1. Benitez, Maria Liza

2. Bugayong, Paul

3. Buhayo Freddie R.

4. Buhayou Nelson S.

5. Buhayo, Ramon S.

6. Carvajal, Lucera

7. Cruz, Jovito

8. Duran, Adrian

9. Duran, Camilo

10. Ferdinand, Norluiz

11. Gevana, Danny

12. Labayen, Mary Grace

13. Laqueyun, Asley

14. Lazatin, Marlene

15. Lazatin, Michael

16. Marte, Emily

17. Mendez, Benito

18. Papasin, Rickson

19. Pastor, Ditas

20. Perez, Emmanuel

21. Pierre, Maria Teresa

22. Pretilla, Roberto

23. Rodriguez, Marivic

24. Torrizo, Rosalia

25. Torrizo, Victor

26. Villagracia, Art Raymond

27. Villagracia, Bernadette

28. Villagracia, Rey

Conejos noted that earlier, 165 out of approximately 290 Filipino community members in Haiti were found to be safe and in good condition. This number does not include the 172 members of the Philippine Peacekeeping Contingent.

The whereabouts of the other Filipinos are still being verified, he said.

According to Conejos, Filipinos are concentrated in four areas that will be easy for the team from the Philippine embassy in Havana, Cuba to find them for possible relocation and repatriation.

The task force’s chief Philippine Ambassador to Cuba Macarthur Corsino was instructed by Foreign Affairs Secretary Romulo to proceed to Haiti to oversee relief operations for Filipinos there and present a plan of action for their repatriation to Manila.

The task force will ensure that food, water, shelter and medical supplies are available to them.

The Filipinos are grouped together in four evacuation centers, namely in Laplian, Delmas 31, Delmas 41/56, and Petionville and presently have adequate food and water supply. With Jaime Laude, Roel Pareño