John Arcilla's father dies in Baler, actor laments not seeing him for the last time due to quarantine

John Arcilla took to Facebook on Sunday to mourn the passing of his father, Dominador Alemania Arcilla.

He didn't die because of COVID-19, the actor said.

John then went on to say that while he didn't feel good announcing the passing of someone dear to him, what pains him the most is not seeing even his father's body for the last time because of the enhanced community quarantine.

"His body is in Baler and due to this situation, wakes and celebrations of mass are not allowed," John wrote.

The "Heneral Luna" actor said their family wishes to cremate his father's body and pray together with his urn after the quarantine, "but we don’t have crematoriums in Baler and travel permits are complicated to process."

Meanwhile, funeral services won't be able to send their staff with his father's remains to Cabanatuan or Manila.

"They can get a travel permit from the origin, but their staff has to be quarantined for two weeks or more in their second destination, and has to settle another set of travel permit."

Arcilla said for now his father's body "will stay in the funeral chapel for two days without a wake and will be buried with restricted attendance of people the next day."

With Arcilla based in Manila are half the number of his siblings — and their children, the elder Arcilla's grandchildren — who can probably settle the travel permits but with checkpoints in place, they don't know if they will be able to go back to Manila after two or three days. 

Arcilla does not blame the COVID-19 situation, he said. He just needed to express something that is "too much to bear."

Arcilla ended his post by asking his followers to pray for his family and his father.

"Please pray for our family most specially for my beloved father Dominador Alemania Arcilla. Thank you for reading this. God bless you all," he ended.

President Rodrigo Duterte placed the whole Luzon on enhanced community quarantine on March 17 to contain the spread of COVID-19, which includes strict measures on travel restrictions. It is expected to last until April 13. — Jannielyn Ann Bigtas/LA, GMA News