4th Pinoy victim in NZ quake identified

PENABLANCA, Cagayan – The family of Lalaine Collado Agatep here has already accepted her fate, even as they revealed the Department of Foreign Affairs and Overseas Workers Welfare Administration didn’t help victims if the recent deadly New Zealand earthquake.

Lalaine is the fourth of the Filipino fatalities recovered and identified Tuesday in the debris of the collapsed CTV building in Christchurch, New Zealand.

Her father, Lee Agatep in their residence, said the DFA only conveyed condolences to their family.

His wife Linda has been trying to reach her two daughters. The other, Laila is now safe with husband James Garcia and two daughters.
sShe flew to Christchurch from Wellington city to monitor developments of her sister’s retrieval.

Mr. Agatep is slated to leave at his own expense, but the New Zealand embassy assisted him on his flight papers.

“Wala palang maibibigay na assistance ang DFA at OWWA, he said. (No assistance from DFA or OWWA).”

“Hindi ko problema ang accommodation, marami akong matutuluyan. (Accommodation is not a problem).”

Other Filipinos presumed dead were: Jessie Lloyd Redoble, John Kristoffer Chua, Ezra Mae Medalle, Emmabelle Anoba, Ivy Jane Cabunilas, Mary Louise Anne Amantillo, Valquin Bensurto, Rhea Mae Sumalpong and Erica Nora.

The Agatep sisters went to New Zealand in 2009 and worked at a retirement home in Bupa.

Lalaine enrolled in the King’s Education English school to advance her career
opportunity since employers have given preference to workers who are articulate in English.

She attended classes on the third floor of the ill-fated CTV building.

“She usually carried her cellphone everywhere,” Laila told a local newspaper.

“It’s like her best friend. She can’t go anywhere without it. In our minds we weren’t thinking she was involved in the tragedy.”

The Garcia couple only discovered that Lalaine was missing upon their arrival in Christchurch last March 2. – RC