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CEBU CITY, Philippines ? Two months after the International Police (Interpol) requested funds from the Cebu City government to purchase equipment for a mobile laboratory, the city can now refund nearly P1 million spent by the organization for the lab.
Vice Mayor Michael Rama said the Office of the Civil Defense (OCD) already sent a bank check worth P959,222 to the Cebu City government to refund Interpol's purchase of the assorted equipments.
However, Rama said refunding Interpol, the lead agency in the identification of victims of typhoon Frank and MV Princess of the Stars, will take some time since they will have to review Commission on Audit (COA) regulations.
He met with Cebu City treasurer Renee Empaces and other officials on Monday to iron out any complications that may arise with refunding Interpol.
Interpol purchased the equipment after Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmena turned down their request last July.
The mayor refused, saying he didn't want taxpayers money used in solving the ?problem of Sulpicio Lines Inc. (SLI),? which owned the sunken Princess of the Stars vessel that claimed hundreds of lives.
Rama then requested and got assurance of funding from President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo who ordered the OCD to handle the requests and expenses of the Disaster Victims Identification (DVI) team headed by Interpol in Cebu City.
Among the equipment purchased include stainless steel working tables, sinks, airconditioning units, electric fans and protection suits.
These are being used to process the remains recovered from the vessel and other areas in the country hit by Typhoon Frank.
Interpol initially requested P1.7 million but it was reduced to P959,222 after a firm shouldered part of the amount.
Rama also asked the OCD, Regional Disaster Coordinating Council (RDCC), the National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) and the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) to reconcile the number of victims of typhoon Frank.
RDCC data showed there are 1,376 missing victims while the NDCC recorded 1,600 missing people excluding SLI victims which reportedly numbered 866.
