NBI calls on kin of dead, missing Yolanda victims

TACLOBAN CITY , Philippines  — The National Bureau of Investigation has called on relatives of those who perished during the onslaught of typhoon Yolanda to avail themselves of free DNA matching and identification, an ante-mortem activity that will end on July 12.

NBI ante-mortem team leader Nicasio Botin said the free service started last May 19 and he hoped that relatives of the Yolanda fatalities-whose identities remain unknown to this day-will come to the NBI to have their DNA samples taken to be matched with the victims the bureau had processed.

This call was prompted by a "very low" turnout of relatives, who already availed themselves of this free service, according to a PNA report.

The NBI had earlier processed 2,255 corpses who were buried at the Holy Cross Cemetery in this city. As of June 20, however, only 703 relatives of those who died in Yolanda came to the Balyuan Convention Center (venue of the ante-mortem activity) to have their blood and dental samples taken, said Botin.

"The number is just about 30 percent from the bodies that we have processed. I guess, they don't find it necessary or they have already moved out of the city," he said.

Botin said the purpose of the ante-mortem is to help the NBI identify the dead and allow their relatives to transfer the bodies from the mass grave to a burial ground of their choice.

"Or at least put a mark where their relatives were buried at the mass grave. All we want is to have a closure," he said.

Botin added the national government has set aside funding for this purpose. Every DNA sampling costs about P20,000. (FREEMAN)