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Monday, January 03, 2005
Pinoy team to help identify tsunami victims
MANILA -- Eight Filipino forensic experts were preparing to head to Thailand to help identify the rapidly decomposing remains of people killed by the tsunamis that ravaged the country's southern coastal region, officials said Sunday.
The team's deployment was in response to Thailand's request for help in getting DNA samples of the dead--including 16 believed to be Filipinos--so they could be immediately buried but later identified, Department of Foreign Affairs spokesman Gilbert Asuque said.
The unidentified bodies were preserved in caskets packed with dry ice or in temporary freezers, Asuque said.
About 5,000 people were killed by the tsunamis in Thailand, including 2,407 foreigners. It wasn't clear how many remains were still unidentified.
DNA analysis
"Thai officials say that because of the decomposing nature of the remains, the bodies would now have to be subjected to DNA analysis and cataloguing, then buried," Asuque said.
Thai authorities appealed for forensic assistance during a meeting with diplomats Saturday, Asuque said.
The Filipino forensic experts, mostly from a criminal investigation unit of the National Bureau of Investigation, were trying to get a flight to Thailand late Sunday.
Philippine officials say at least five Filipinos died and 13 others remained missing in the tragedy that struck the Thai tourist haven of Phuket, where up to 120 Filipinos work as musicians and resort employees.
Aside from the forensic team, the government has also organized a 12-member team of doctors, nurses and sanitary engineers to help in the aftermath of the tsunami disaster in Sri Lanka.
Another medical team will be sent to Indonesia, Asuque said.
Other problems
An activist Roman Catholic priest, Robert Reyes, meanwhile, planned to lead a "sympathy run" in Manila's financial district of Makati Monday, passing through the embassies of the tsunami-devastated countries to offer flowers, candles and prayers, organizers said.
Citizens of the affected countries have been invited to join the event, they said.
"Aside from helping ease the disaster, well-off countries should use the devastation to ponder ways of collectively dealing with other world problems, such as poverty, environmental destruction, human rights violations and other conditions that set off wars and sufferings," Reyes said.
"There are other problems devastating the world," he said. (AP)
(January 3, 2005 issue)
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