Pasay LGU gives aid to family of stranded mom who died waiting for bus ride

MANILA, Philippines — The local government of Pasay said it will give assistance to the family of Michelle Silvertino, who passed away after waiting for a bus ride to Camarines Sur for over five days.

“Pasay Mayor Emi Calixto-Rubiano has vowed to extend the necessary assistance to the relatives of the woman who died reportedly after five days of waiting at the footbridge along EDSA for a bus to take her home to her province,” read the statement from Pasay Public Information Office.

To recall, Police said a concerned citizen alerted authorities of Silvertino, 33, who was found unconscious at a footbridge at E. Rodriguez in Barangay 159, Pasay City at 4:30 a.m. last June 5. The citizen added that the victim had difficulty breathing and suffered from high fever.

Silvertino was then brought to the Pasay General Hospital where she later died.

Rubiano, meanwhile, said they already paid for the hospital and burial services of Silvertino.

She also noted that Silvertino was not tested for the novel coronavirus because there was no form from the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM).

Pasay government said Silvertino’s remains were brought to Pasay City Public Cemetery and Crematorium on June 7 but later found that the body was “already bloated and had a very foul smell which also released body fluids.”

This prompted the government to have Silvertino buried at the Pasay Cemetery to avoid risk of contamination at the Pasay Crematorium. Silvertino’s family also agreed with the decision.

“Fearing the risk of any contamination among the personnel of the Pasay Crematorium as well as other people within its vicinity if the remains would be cremated there, the body was thus buried in Pasay Cemetery so as to avoid whatever health risks,” read the statement.

According to health department guidelines, burial cremation of suspected carriers of COVID-19 and COVID-19 patients are safe as long as strict infection and prevention control are followed.

‘Looked very tired’

Rubiano said the Pasay Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) had dispatched its members to look into a woman, who was later identified as Silvertino, at the footbridge last June 1.

PDRRMO said Silvertino was in normal condition but “looked very tired” during that time. The personnel offered to bring Silvertino to a hospital but the latter refused.

Silvertino also signed a waiver from the PDRRMO that she did not want to be brought to a hospital.

The PDRRMO sent personnel to check on the victim but they could not find her as she was allegedly moving from one place to another while waiting for a bus ride.

Meanwhile, Pasay police said they contacted Silvertino’s employers who offered to ferry Silvertino to her home in Antipolo. But Silvertino allegedly said she would stay in Pasay instead to wait for her bus ride.

On June 4, Pasay government officials found Silvertino for processing of travel pass and scheduled rapid test on June 5.

Pasay government also coordinated with the Office of Vice President Leni Robredo to request for a vehicle that would help Silvertino travel to Camarines Sur on June 6.

CFC