Gov’t vows to sort out mass graves of ‘Yolanda’ victims

A MAN who survived Supertyphoon “Yolanda” visits the grave of a relative who died at the height of the storm in Palo, Leyte province, as storm survivors continue to struggle for their daily survival amid the toughest of conditions and threats to the flow of relief. RAFFY LERMA

MANILA, Philippines – With relatives of typhoon “Yolanda” victims unable to find the graves of their loved ones on All Saints’ Day, the government on Sunday assured the public that the mass graves in Tacloban and other areas will soon be sorted out.

“Patuloy ang pagsisikap ng pamahalaan upang maisaayos ang pagbibigay ng karampatang himlayan sa mga naging biktima ng bagyong ‘Yolanda,’” Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said over state-run radio.

(The government continues to persevere and give victims of typhoon Yolanda a proper burial.)

He said government agencies, headed by the National Bureau of Investigation, are working to identify the remains through DNA testing and other scientific processes.

“Hindi titigil ang pamahalaan hanggang sa makumpleto ang nasabing mga proseso bilang paggalang sa mga naulila ng mga nasawi,” he said.

(The government won’t stop until all processes are done in respect of the relatives of the victims.)

Coloma explained that the devastation wrought by Yolanda was unlike any other typhoon in the country’s recent history.

He said the government was doing what is necessary to help the survivors find livelihood.

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