28 December 2004 – Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto G. Romulo instructed Philippine Ambassador to Bangkok Antonio V. Rodriguez to provide every possible assistance to Filipinos affected by the tsunami that hit the Thai resort island of Phuket on Sunday, 26 December 2004.    Pursuant to the Secretary’s instructions, the Philippine Embassy has established direct contact with the Ministry of Interior of Thailand and sent Mr. Jasper Revilla, an Embassy consular staff, to facilitate the identification of any Filipino who may have perished or been injured during the tsunami.

In his report to Secretary Romulo, Ambassador Rodriguez said the Thai Ministry of Interior has provided the Embassy with eight (8) Filipino sounding names whose bodies were recovered by rescue teams in Phuket.  The Department is searching its records to verify the names of the eight casualties.  But in order to expedite the verification, the Department is now releasing these names as indicated in the report of the Thai Ministry of Interior:

· Barrera Jann· Curlos Barong· Major Tomas· Mary Tanagtong · Sesilvia Bargoa· Sevrine Pairuno· Flona Gallan· Feri Cornelia

Relatives of these persons are requested to call Ms. Sheila Solas of the Office of the Undersecretary for Migrant Workers Affairs, DFA at telephone number 8344594.  According to the Thai Ministry of Interior, the bodies of these eight casualties are being preserved and awaiting final verification.

Ambassador Rodriquez also informed Secretary Romulo of the names of five Filipinos who were injured as a result of the tsunami and are now confined at hospitals in Phuket.  The Department has made arrangements to inform the relatives in the Philippines of the following injured Filipino nationals:

Vichara Hospital, Phuket Province· Marco Sangil· Vergini Cruz· Ms. Virginia· Margaret Ang Choi Patong Hospital, Phuket Province· Rosemarie Phi King Ang-Tan

The names of Mr. Sangil, Miss Cruz and Miss Virginia are included in the list of disaster victims prepared by the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation of the Thai Ministry of Interior.

Ambassador Rodriquez said that Ms. Sharleen May Tan, daughter of Rosemarie Phi King Ang-Tan, is still missing and is being located by Mr. Revilla in Phuket.  Rosemarie’s husband, Mr. David Tan, is a British national and is still missing with their daughter Sharleen May.  The Tan couple has four children, two of whom are Filipino citizens.    Rosemarie is being treated for minor injuries.

Ambassador Rodriquez also said that Margaret Ang Choi is married to Choi Chung Huen, a British passport holder, mistakenly identified earlier by the Thai Ministry of Interior as a Filipino.   Mr. Choi is one of the casualties of the tsunami.  His wife, Margaret and daughter Gayleen, a British citizen, are now confined at the Vichara Hospital in Phuket.

Ambassador Rodriquez said the Mr. Revilla spoke with the injured Filipinos and provided the needed assistance for their return to the Philippines.

Ambassador Rodriquez assured the Secretary that the Embassy, which has formed a task force to coordinate assistance to Filipinos affected by the tsunami, will continue its intensive search for Filipinos in Phuket and in other areas in Thailand that were affected by the tsunami.

In the meantime, Secretary Romulo assured relatives of Filipinos in Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, India and Maldives that the Department and its Embassies or Consulates in these countries will continue efforts to ascertain the status of the Filipinos and will extend every possible assistance to those who may be affected by this natural calamity.

All inquiries regarding Filipinos who may be affected by the earthquake and tsunami may continue to be referred to the DFA Action Center at telephone number 834 3333 or the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration, DOLE through its 24 hour  hotline number 833 6992. END.