THE City Government of Zamboanga, through the City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO), held a mass burial on Friday, November 25, 2022, for the remains of 27 unclaimed cadavers that have been stored at the morgue for more than a year.

The mass burial in Talabaan village followed the solemn burial rites presided by religious leaders and attended by the personnel of the CSWDO headed by Ma. Socorro Rojas.

Personnel from the City Health Office and other stakeholders joined the CSWDO staff during the activity.

Rojas said most of the unclaimed cadavers were vagrants with mental health issues who were rescued in city streets. Two of the cadavers were senior citizens.

Rojas said that no relative or friends have claimed their remains since they were turned over to the city-contracted morgue.

The local government, through the CSWDO, conducts mass burial for unclaimed cadavers every year, based on a city Ordinance.

The city government shoulders the expenses for embalming, storage and coffins.

Rojas said that regardless of their religious affiliation and circumstances of death, the cadavers deserve decent burial. (SunStar Zamboanga)