14 Filipino fire victims in Iraq being identified

PHILIPPINE Embassy officials in Iraq have gone to the Kurdistan region to identify and start repatriation proceedings for the 14 Filipinos who perished in a hotel fire.

As of 5 p.m. yesterday, it was not yet known whether there were Cebuanos among the victims.

“Embassy is in touch with the Kurdistan regional government to ascertain the identities of Filipino victims,” Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) spokesman Charles Jose said in a text message to Cebu Daily News.

“Under police investigation pa ang nangyaring sunog (The fire is under police investigation). But as soon as pwede nang i-uwi ang mga labi sa (the remains will be released), our embassy will assist with the repatriation to the Philippines,” he added.

Elmer G. Cato, chargé d´affaires of the Philippine Embassy in Baghdad, said they arrived in Erbil in the Kurdistan region yesterday afternoon. The Philippine Embassy team flew in an aircraft provided by the UN Assistance Mission in Iraq.

An estimated 1,500 Filipinos are in the Kurdistan region and another 500 in other parts of Iraq.

Daniel Narag, who works as underwriting officer in an insurance company in Erbil, said he called the Philippine Embassy about the incident. Then he went to the hotel and later, to the hospital to find out more about the victims.

The fire, which reportedly started in the massage room, had been controlled when Narag arrived at the Capitol Hotel.

“Nagtanong kami dun sa mga officials na pulis sa massage nga raw nag start eh sa basement ng hotel yung area nila then tinakbo lahat ng patay sa government hospital (The fire started in the massage room in the basement, police officials said. The victims were brought to the government hospital),” he said.