Two Filipinos confirmed killed in Haiti earthquake

Tue, 19 Jan 2010

Manila - At least two Filipinos were killed in the devastating earthquake that struck Haiti last week, the government said Tuesday. The bodies of the two Filipinos - a female peacekeeper and a UN staff member - were retrieved late Monday in the rubble of Christopher Hotel in Port-au-Prince.

Four Filipinos were still missing and feared trapped in the hotel and a nearby supermarket.

The Department of Foreign Affairs identified one of the victims as Jerome Yap, a staff member of the United Nations.

Yap was executive assistant to a top UN official who was also killed in the magnitude-7 earthquake on January 12, the department said.

Philippine Navy petty officer Pearly Panangui also died in the quake, according to Lieutenant Colonel Romeo Brawner, a military spokesman.

Panangui was a member of the Philippines' contingent to the UN peacekeeping mission in Haiti.

Two other Filipino peacekeepers were still missing and trapped in the Christopher Hotel, while two female migrant workers were trapped in the Caribbean Supermarket.

The Philippine government announced Monday it would donate 50,000 dollars to help in relief and recovery efforts in Haiti. It is also sending a medical team to the Caribbean nation.

Source: Earth Times.
Link: http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/304541,two-filipinos-confirmed-killed-in-haiti-earthquake.html.