World | Philippines
DNA kits to help identify ferry victims
oreign forensic experts with 3,000 DNA testing kits set up a centre to help relatives identify the remains of their loved ones who perished when a ferry sank in rough seas off the central Philippines last week.
- By Barbara Mae Dacanay, Bureau Chief
- Published: 00:10 July 3, 2008
Manila: Foreign forensic experts with 3,000 DNA testing kits set up a centre to help relatives identify the remains of their loved ones who perished when a ferry sank in rough seas off the central Philippines last week.
The MV Princess of the Stars sank off Sibuyan Island last Saturday.
Interpol Secretary-General Ronald K. Noble arrived in Cebu City with Olaf Worbs, Torkjel Rygnestad and Andrea Klauser of the International Commission on Missing Persons, a group that helped with the identification of some 3,500 decomposed corpses of tsunami victims in Thailand, Sri Lanka and the Maldives.
Along with forensics experts of the Philippine National Police and the health department, the officials had set up a Victim Identification Management Information Centre (VIMIC) at the compound of the Cebu Port Authority in Cebu City, said Noble.
Forms issued
The team issued forms to be filled up by relatives of missing passengers of the MV Princess of the Stars.
The experts were also preparing to hand over the 149 bodies that had been retrieved by divers of the Philippines Coast Guard (PCG), the Philippine Navy (PN), and the Philippine National Police (PNP) in the seas off Sibuyan Island in Romblon, Masbate, and Burias Island, said Noble.
The team had asked for refrigerated containers to preserve the bodies, he said, adding that more mobile forensic laboratories were to be set up.
"We will draw on all of our resources so that the team can work for the accurate and efficient identification of the victims of this tragedy," he said.
The foreign and local forensic experts, the DNA test kits and the refrigerated containers are expected to facilitate the process of identifying the bodies of the victims of the sea mishap, said national police chief, Director General Avelino Razon, who had held a meeting with Noble on Tuesday.
The ship had 862 passengers and crew members on board when it went down.
- With inputs from Rafael Juan, Correspondent
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