CEBU City, Philippines - Families and friends of the Iranians killed in a road accident over the weekend became emotional as their bodies were transferred one by one from the caskets to crates. It would be the last time they'll see their loved ones before they are brought back to Iran.

Ustadz Najeeb Razul, founder of the Voice of Islam in Cebu, prayed over the 20 coffins. Together with the fellow Muslims, they prayed to Allah.

"The usual tradition is we place the Koran on top of the coffin. Say our silent prayers. There is no need for a ritual or anything because we already did that last Monday," Razul explained.

He added: "The Muslim community in Cebu will continue to pray for them even if they are already in Iran. We will pray on the 7th, 10th and 40th day since the incident happened."

After the prayers, the coffins were one by one transferred into the crates. The documents such as death certificates, transfer permits and quarantine papers, were also placed inside the crates. Each crate was properly identified and labeled.

Representatives from the Iranian embassy, headed by Ambassador Ali Rouzbehani and Consul Mohammad Tavana witnessed the activity, making sure that all procedures were followed.

All 20 crates will be brought back to Tehran, Iran on Saturday via Boeing 747, a chartered plane from Iran. It will take about 10 hours of travel from Cebu to Iran.

"It's a carrier plane. It can accommodate many. However, we might have to limit the passengers. But as to family, there is no limit of how many who would come," Rouzbehani said.

He said the other injured Iranians who want to go home may also join the flight.

Majority of the Iranian victims were medical students. They were on their way to a picnic when the bus carrying them lost control and fell off a cliff in Barangay Cansumuruy in Balamban town, Cebu province.

Delayed trip

The carrier plane was supposed to arrive to Cebu on Thursday, but it was delayed due to bad weather condition in China.

Cebu Doctors Hospital president Potenciano Larrazabal told ABS-CBN that the plane was supposed to arrive at 6 p.m. Thursday, based on an information provided to him by the Health Minister of Iran.

However, Rouzbehani clarified that the plane wasn't able to arrive because of the bad weather condition in China.

"It was already on its way here. But it stopped in China, I think due to bad weather. So we coordinated another schedule. And its Saturday. But no time yet," Rouzbehani said.

Rouzbehani further said that all expenses in Cosmopolitan Funeral Homes will be handled by the Iran Government.

Renato Dychanco, owner of Cosmopolitan Funeral Homes, said they have yet to release final amount as there are additional charges.

"But the Embassy already assured us that they will pay. For now, we just want to finish this service, then we can talk about the financial arrangements," he said.