UN asks kin of slain workers to submit DNA by January 1 Veronica Uy INQ7.net
November 14, 2006
THE United Nations' Angola Recovery Project has set January 1, 2007 as the deadline for the kin of workers, including three Filipinos, killed during a UN operation in the African country seven years ago to submit DNA samples.
In an interview over the Internet, Elmer Cato, second secretary at the Philippine Mission to the UN, also said only the family of Bernabe Manantan Vicarme, born June 12, 1957, but whose birthplace is unknown, has not contacted the UN or his office on how to retrieve their loved one’s remains.
Earlier, the Philippine Mission to the UN asked the next of kin of Vicarme, Ramon Samonte Dumlao of Tarlac, and Benjamin Parro Montefalcon of Camarines to come forward for DNA testing.
The three were employees of Transafrik, a South Africa-based company that leased aircraft to UN humanitarian missions.
They were among the 23 people killed in separate antiaircraft attacks in December 1998 near Huambo, Angola on two UN-chartered C-130 cargo planes carrying food supplies for more than 100,000 refugees who had fled the fighting between Angolan government and rebel forces.
Romerico Dumlao, son of Ramon Dumlao, said he contacted the Department of Foreign Affairs for details on how to submit his DNA sample, but nobody at the department seemed to know how to go about this.
The young Dumlao, who got in touch with INQ7.net, said he and his siblings want to get back their father's remains.
Cato gave assurances the Dumlaos would be able to meet the deadline. He said he has contacted Rowena Dumlao in Italy and is coordinating with her.
In his letter to the Dumlaos, a copy of which was provided INQ7.net, Dr. Christen Halle of the Angola Recovery Project listed the other deadlines: December 1 is the last day of the recovery operations; March 1, 2007 is the last day for deciding on repatriating the remains (the burial ceremony at an overall site will happen after this date); and May 1, 2007 is the last day of the project (burial may be in the individuals' home country or the overall site).
