Press Release
July 5, 2008

GORDON: "RACE AGAINST TIME"

Philippine National Red Cross Chairman and CEO, Senator Richard J. Gordon discerned during the press conference held yesterday, Thursday, July 3, 2008 at the PNRC National Headquarters in Manila, that the proper identification of decomposing bodies of fishermen in Cadiz City whose fishing boats sank in Romblon waters at the height of typhoon Frank should be done as soon as possible.

Gordon decided to bring Red Cross forensic experts to the province since claimants of the bodies are already having difficulty identifying their dead kin.

"We want to identify the bodies so the relatives of the dead could finally have closure. I'm not complaining and not even questioning the Interpol, however I just want to have it done immediately. It's a race against time. We have people trained for that." Gordon stressed.

Gordon announced the arrival of an eight-man counseling team of PNRC in Negros Occidental to conduct stress debriefing for Cadiz City fishermen who survived the onslaught of typhoon Frank. He also said the team will also provide psychological support to families of the fishermen.

According to the report received by Gordon from PNRC social worker Leonor Lanceta, the team leader, the survivors and their families are experiencing a great deal of trauma because of the typhoon. Lanceta said members of the PNRC will be counseling these people to ease their traumatic experiences.

The PNRC will also help families of still missing fishermen look for their relatives and identify their bodies if they are already dead. A PNRC forensic team was also expected to arrive in Negros Occidental to conduct post-mortem examinations on the still-unidentified bodies of fishermen.

More than 500 fishermen sailed off in 20 boats at the height of the typhoon. The boats sank due to high waves and strong wind caused by the typhoon. At least 100 fishermen remain missing. Government teams were still searching for the missing fishermen's bodies.

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