16 Filipinos feared dead but no confirmation yet
By Marvin Sy And Mayen Jaymalin
The Philippine Star 12/30/2004

More Filipinos are feared to have died in the killer tsunamis that struck southern Thailand, with the likely death toll climbing to 16 after eight more "Filipino-sounding" names were submitted by Thai authorities, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said yesterday.

Up to 17 Filipinos, mostly seafarers, were also reported missing while 13 survivors were accounted for on the tourist island of Phuket, according to DFA and labor officials.

In a briefing at the DFA, department spokesman Gilbert Asuque said the eight "probable" Filipino fatalities were listed by the Thais as Andees Barona, Eileen Chan, Giner Salello, Giovanni Cabrera, Ilse Panaino, Katrin Lorente, Maria Novello and Mariana Barona.

Thai authorities also corrected some of the names they provided on Tuesday. They are Barrera Juan, previously listed as Barrera Jann; Carlos Barong, previously listed as "Curlos," and Sevrine Patruno previously listed as "Pairuno."

Both the DFA and the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) have not received any confirmation on their identities, Asuque said.

Labor Secretary Patricia Sto. Tomas said her office also received reports on the new Filipino-sounding names, but these still have to be verified.

Asuque said the DFA is going through its records to cross-check the names. But he stressed that they need more documents especially from possible relatives in the country.

The Philippine embassy in Bangkok has also provided the DFA with a list of 10 Filipinos who were reported missing in Phuket, a popular tourist destination in Thailand where up to 100 Filipinos work in hotels or clubs. It was among the areas in south Asia hardest hit by giant tidal waves caused by a major earthquake off Sumatra island near Indonesia.

The missing were identified as Alexander Latoza, Alma Gillado, Flordeliza (Dianne) Isla, Ivy Catherine Tomenio-Terasaka, Jerwin Sedillo, Joselito Balbutin, Marcial Ferre, Marian Pasag, Sharleen May Tan and Sherlyn Tan.

According to Asuque, the 10 missing consist of five tourists, four musicians and a seaman.

On the other hand, the OWWA reported seven missing Filipino seafarers.

OWWA operation center duty officer Hector Cruz identified them as Brian Panyamogan, Ricardo David, Marcial Medenilla, Gerald de Guzman, Ramon Marianon, Demetrio Suello and Marcial Serie.

The OFWs, he said, are mostly seafarers of ships cruising the Indian Ocean at the time the disaster struck. They are believed to be missing since their relatives have yet to make contact with them since Sunday.

The OWWA has tapped the assistance of the Filipino community in Thailand to help locate all Filipinos there and check on their condition.

The DFA also reported 13 survivors as of yesterday.

They are Beverly Tan, Catherine Prieto, Celeste Panahon, Erwin Raagas, Jovito Masaga, Lorena Masaga, Lorena M. Burlaza, Marco Sangil, Margaret Ang Choi, Pilar Prieto, Reginaldo Recibio, Rosemarie Phi King Ang-Tan, and Virginia Cruz.

Nine of them are hotel workers while the others are tourists.

Malacañang has conceded to the possibility that Filipinos were among the hundreds killed by massive tsunamis that devastated Thailand’s coastlines.

While keeping their fingers crossed, Palace officials called yesterday on the relatives of those who were in these tourist areas to contact the DFA.

"We are not discounting the possibility that there were indeed Filipinos who might have perished in the tsunami," Presidential Spokesman Ignacio Bunye said in a statement.

"We urge the relatives and friends of those who have gone missing while working or visiting the affected countries to coordinate with the DFA," he said.

"It is unfortunate that at least five of our kababayan (countrymen) were reported injured and we assure them and their families that the government is coordinating with the host country for the necessary assistance that can be extended to them," Bunye said.

Aside from Thailand, also hit by tsunamis caused by a 9.0-magnitude earthquake on the Indian Ocean floor off the western tip of Sumatra Island were Sri Lanka, India, the Maldives, Malaysia and Indonesia.

More than 50,000 died and still counting as the ocean waters return the bodies and debris it swept away from the shore.

On Tuesday, the Philippines said it would be sending medical aid teams to Thailand and Indonesia to help the survivors.

Asuque said they are in constant dialogue with the two governments on what kind of assistance can be offered.

The DFA is still awaiting their reply after which resources will be organized for the deployment. Coming Home
Following the traumatic calamity, Marco Sangil and three others out of the 13 survivors have requested to be repatriated to be with loved ones back home.

And in order to facilitate the growing request for issuance of emergency travel documents for survivors, Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto Romulo has instructed the embassy in Bangkok to immediately send a consular staff to Phuket to tend to their needs.

Ambassador to Bangkok Antonio Rodriguez has dispatched Angel Cayabyab to Phuket to assist Jasper Revilla, another consular staff, to immediately process the travel documents free of any cost.

In Indonesia where the death toll has risen to more than 30,000, the DFA said that the Philippine embassy in Jakarta has not yet confirmed any Filipino deaths.

But in some areas, particularly in Aceh where communications are difficult, the embassy has not been able to get information.

Of the 10 missing, Terasaka is believed to be dead, according to reports coming in from Phuket and Singapore where the employer of the victim’s husband is based.

Terasaka was spending the holidays with her family in Phuket and were on their way to Khaolak Beach in Phangnga when the tsunami hit.

According to the staff of the Patong City Hotel where the Terasakas were staying, the family rented a hotel vehicle to go sightseeing last Sunday, but failed to return.

The vehicle was discovered last Tuesday afternoon along the road from Phuket to Khaolak with its body stripped away.

Inside the vehicle was the luggage of Masahiro Terasaka, Ivy’s husband and the body of a still unidentified woman.

Although it was already reported that the body resembled that of Ivy, the DFA refused to verify the identity until it receives confirmation from relatives.

Asuque said that Yvonne Tomenio-Catuday, sister of Ivy, is on her way to Singapore to meet up with officials of her brother-in-law’s employer, Sumitomo Forestry.

From Singapore, Catuday will be flying to Phuket to help identify the remains found inside the vehicle.

Terasaka’s husband and sons, Mahito, 9, Yukihito, 6 and three-month old daughter, Mayumi were still missing. All three children are Japanese citizens.

Eastern Samar Gov. Ben Evardone earlier made an appeal on behalf of Terasaka’s relatives in the province to help locate the family of five.

Evardone said Ivy is in her late 30s and a native of Borongan town. — AFP