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MANILA, Philippines -- Five overseas Filipino workers were among seven people killed in a fire that gutted a staff house in Kuala Belait district in Brunei Darussalam at around 3:30 a.m. Friday, a Philippine ambassador said.
In her report to the Department of Foreign Affairs, Philippine Ambassador to Brunei Darussalam Virginia Benavidez cited accounts of the survivors and identified the fatalities as: Corazon Tayco Mabini from Aklan, Susana Adriano Gonzales and Zosima Dionisio Pineda from Bulacan, who are all working as sewers; Bernardo Roda Gervacio from San Juan City, a cook; and Maria Ellen Joy Solidum from Sto. Tomas, Batangas, who works as a waitress.
Quoting the report, foreign Affairs spokesman Claro Cristobal said that of the 17 migrant Filipinos who survived the fire, one was in hospital to undergo surgery for spine injuries she sustained after jumping from the second floor of the burning house. He identified her as Juvy Umiten, who underwent an urgent spine operation at the RIPAS Hospital in Bandar Seri Begawan Friday.
The ambassador said the wooden structure housed 24, of whom 22 were Filipinos. She said that aside from Umiten, the other survivors are: Reynaldo Daguinod, Kenneth Calvin Masangcay, Larry Ermitanio, Jonathan Del Rosario, Lorie Jane Diente, Maricel Montiano, Obeth Canaling, Barry Mabini, Dionito Mabini Jr., Ricardo Estrella, Vivian Quimno, Grace Martillano, Vincent Cuyos, Tita Cruz Iral, Joel Iral, and Joel Del Rosario.
“The survivors are receiving assistance from their employers, the embassy, and the Filipino community in Brunei,” Cristobal said, adding that the cause of the fire was being investigated.
The DFA spokesman said some of the survivors have been provided shelter by their employers while the others are temporarily staying at the St. John’s Church, which is just in front of the burned house.
“The Philippine embassy continues to coordinate with the employers of the victims regarding arrangements for their shelter as well as repatriation of the remains of the deceased,” he said.
Benavidez, who went to the site together with other embassy officials, expressed condolences to the relatives of the deceased.
“We are really grateful to the members of the Filipino community in Kuala Belait, employers of the survivors, and other concerned citizens and expatriates, for the outpouring of assistance to the victims by providing cots, pillows, blankets, clothes, food, toiletries, cash, etc.,” the ambassador said.
“The Bayanihan spirit is so alive in Kuala Belait and it pervades among Filipinos, Bruneians, and expatriates. I also thank the police, fire and rescue Department, and hospital authorities of Brunei Darussalam for their prompt action, invaluable assistance, and continuing cooperation,” she added.
