DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS 
P R E S S  R E L E A S E
www.dfa.gov.ph                                                                                           2330 Roxas Blvd., Pasay City, Philippines                                                                                 Tel. No. 834-4000 

SFA-AGR-715-05                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 04 October  2005

PHILEMB MADRID FACILITATES QUICK RETURN TO  RP OF OFW IVY BAUTISTA’S REMAINS,
HIRES LAWYER IN SANTANDER TO REPRESENT HER FAMILY

4 October 2005 – Chargé d’Affaires, a. i. (CDA) Celia Anna M. Feria of the Philippine Embassy in Madrid, Spain, reported to Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto G. Romulo that the Embassy has begun the coordination with the concerned authorities in Santander and processing of the necessary documents to expedite the return to the Philippines of the remains of OFW Ivy Collantes Bautista.   CDA Feria also reported that the Embassy has instructed Honorary Consul General José Luis Gamarra of the Philippine Honorary Consulate General in Bilbao to hire a lawyer to represent the family of the slain OFW in Santander.

CDA Feria said that the Embassy began the process of returning Ivy’s remains to the Philippines after Ivy’s husband Crisanto, mother Demetria Collantes and other members of her family expressed their wish that Ivy’s remains not be subjected to a second autopsy. (Please see press release SFA-AGR-709-05, 3 October 2005, for background information)

CDA Feria further reported that the Embassy has directed Honorary Consul General Gamarra to request, with the assistance of the lawyer, to secure copies of the complete case report on  OFW Ivy Bautista.     She explained that the Juez, or Court, in accordance with its procedures, will release the complete report that includes the autopsy on OFW Ivy only upon representation made by a lawyer on behalf of the Embassy.

CDA Feria explained that two Spanish forensic experts were assigned to handle Ivy’s case.  Normally, only one forensic expert is assigned, but an additional forensic expert was also assigned on the case as Spanish authorities considered Ivy’s case as special.  The two experts agreed that the cause of Ivy’s death was suicide, CDA Feria said in her report to the Secretary.

CDA Feria said that Honorary Consul Gamarra is making an inventory of Ivy’s personal effects before these are delivered to her family in the Philippines.   She assured Secretary Romulo that, pursuant to instructions, the Embassy will continue to monitor developments on the case and provide the necessary assistance to Ivy’s relatives in Spain.  END
 
 
 

/jay