MANILA(Philippine Daily Inquirer/ANN): The number of Filipinos who have died following the catastrophic wildfires in Hawaii has climbed to four, said the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Monday.
Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Eduardo de Vega, in a text message to INQUIRER.net, identified the latest fatality as Rogelio Mabalot, 68.
“The Philippine Consulate General in Honolulu was notified by the US Department of State – Office of Foreign Missions of the passing of Mabalot, a national of the Philippines and resident of Lahaina, Maui.
"The Consulate has reached out to Mabalot’s next-of-kin and conveyed its deepest sympathies, as well as its full support and assistance. Our hearts go out to the families and friends affected by this devastating event,” said de Vega.
This brings the number of confirmed Filipino fatalities after the catastrophe to four. DFA said these four confirmed fatalities are as follows: Alfredo Galinato, 79; Rodolfo Racunan, 76; Salvador Coloma, 77 and Rogelio Mabalot, 68.
De Vega also disclosed that the Philippine Consulate General in Honolulu is still verifying the nationality of the following fatalities: Conchita Sagudang,
Danilo Sagudang, Antonio Molina, Carlo Tobias, Pablo Pagdilao III.
Relatives of the fatalities whose nationality are still being verified were instructed to contact the consulate at +18082539446.
“Information from social media indicate a certain Pablo Pagdilao of Lahaina as hailing from Ilocos Norte, Philippines. [But] we are still verifying,” said de Vega.
Earlier, de Vega said the consulate’s records yielded negative results for Conchita and Danilo Sagudang, but there is information online that they are from Abra province.
Online information likewise indicates Molina and Tobias as having relatives in the Philippines. However, the consulate’s records also yielded negative results.
Philippine Consul General in Honolulu Emilio Fernandez previously told INQUIRER.net that it’s entirely possible that these individuals have Filipino blood but they just did not apply for a Philippine passport or become dual citizens.
“Maybe because they are already American, or they are already naturalized as US citizens. It is entirely possible that they are Filipino,” said Fernandez. - Philippine Dailt Inquirer/ANN
