Kin may have to endure long wait for the dead

FOUR days after the sinking of MV St. Thomas Aquinas, only four out of the 65 bodies brought to the Cosmopolitan Funeral Homes are ready to be released to their families.

The families of the casualties of the deadly sea mishap are getting impatient, already wanting to bring home their departed relative.

As of yesterday afternoon, 40 cadavers have been identified. Those in advanced stage of decomposition will have to undergo DNA identification, which means, relatives will have to wait for up to one month before they can bring home the remains and hold funeral rites for their departed loved one.

According to Shalaine Marie Lucero, chief of the Protective Services of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), they will only release the bodies to the next kin if they have completed the required papers which include, birth certificate, marriage contract if the claimant is a spouse of the casualty.

If the family couldn’t present any of the two, a barangay certificate is needed as a proof that the one who died is a resident of that barangay as well as a valid identification card to be presented to the DSWD.

In cases when the birth or marriage certificates are left in the province, Lucero said that the families can ask their families in the province to fax it to the Cosmopolitan Funeral Homes or email it to her via [email protected].

The Cebu City government is also helping hasten the release of the dead bodies by providing a priority lane at the National Statistics Office (NSO) so families could process the birth and marriage certificates faster.

DNA matching

For the bodies who are already in the advance stage of decomposition, Dr. Expidito Medalla, head of Regional Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit 7, said a DNA test will have to be undertaken.

Members of the Soco and forensics from the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) will process the DNA matching from samples taken from the bodies and relatives of the departed passengers of MV St. Thomas Aquinas. They will then cross match the DNA results to determine the identity of the cadaver.

DNA samples will be brought to the DNA laboratory of the Philippine National Police in Camp Crame in Quezon City. Results may be known in a month, Medalla said.

Compensation

Meanwhile, a survivor who lost her husband said they have been told by 2Go that those who died will be entitled P240,000 insurance.

Ursula Cananzo, 65, a survivor told Cebu Daily News that because she lost her husband Alfonso, 72, the funeral expenses of about P50,000 will be deducted from the insurance compensation.

Survivors have been given P5,000 each and offered free transportation to their destination.