MANILA, Philippines – The head of the 10th Philippine Peacekeeping contingent based in Haiti assured the family of an overseas Filipino worker (OFW) recovered Monday that her remains will soon be repatriated to the Philippines.

“We're working on how we can immediately repatriate the body of Grace Fabian which was recovered yesterday,” Lt. Col. Lope Dagoy told ANC’s Dateline Philippines.

A relative of Fabian has buried her remains in Haiti. However, Fabian’s parents appealed to the government to bring her body back home.

“We recovered back the body of Grace from where it was initially interred because we believe the parents would like to have her body returned back as soon as possible,” Dagoy said.

Dagoy said they expect to recover the remains of another OFW, Geraldine Lalican, believed to be trapped inside the collapsed Caribbean Supermarket, anytime soon.

“We are expecting to recover her body anytime now and probably in the coming days. Maselan lang talaga ang recovery operations kasi decomposing na sila,” he said.

He explained that there is currently no funeral service operating in Haiti. The one company that is working is only for the remains of UN personnel. He had requested that company, which they earlier assisted, to accommodate Fabian’s body.

“I asked them if they can accommodate the body of Grace and luckily they granted our request,” he said adding that Fabian’s remains will be sent to Dominican Republic on Wednesday for repatriation.

He, likewise, appealed to Filipinos who took photos of Fabian when her body was recovered to not send it.

“Mayroon kasing mga dismemberment. Maselan masyado,” he added.

The head of the Filipino contingent said there are more than a hundred OFWs who opted to remain in Haiti.

“Most of them are back to their respective jobs,” he said, adding that many employers promised OFWs that they can immediately return to work once the situation becomes favorable.
 
“I would like to tell the families of Grace Fabian and Geraldin Maggie Lalican that we’re doing everything here to assist them in the best way possible. Dateline Philippines