Cuisia visits US Oil Rig fire victims

Philippine Ambassador to the US Jose Cuisia. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — Philippine Ambassador to the United States (US) Jose Cuisia Jr. has joined three other Filipino consular officers in attending to the needs of the Filipino contract workers who were injured when an oil platform caught fire in the Gulf of Mexico Friday.

In a statement, the Philippine embassy in Washington said that Cuisia would proceed with Deputy Consul General Castro, Welfare Officer Saul de Vries and Assistant Labor Officer Oliver Flores, to the Baton Rouge General Hospital where two of the four injured Filipinos remained in critical conditions.

Earlier reports noted that one of the Filipinos injured was in serious but stable condition.

Meanwhile, 50-year old Wilberto Ilagan was reported to be in fair condition. Cuisia would also be meeting with hospital officials, the embassy said.

It said that Cuisia would also be monitoring the preparations for the repatriation of the lone Filipino fatality, Elroy Corporal, and the continuing search efforts for the missing Filipino worker.

It said Cuisia would also meet with officials of D&R Resources, the recruiter of the workers; representatives of Grand Isle Shipyard Inc, the contractor;. and representatives of Black Elk Energy, owner of the ill-fated oil production platform.