Remains of Pinay found in a box in Bali arrive in PHL; kin looking for Russian companion

The remains of the Filipina tourist who was reported missing in Bali, Indonesia since Christmas last year has arrived in the Philippines.

The body of Balmaceda Paaño, a resort worker in Coron, Palawan, arrived in a casket and was returned to her home province in Pasacao, Camarines Sur, according to a Balitanghali report by James Agustin.

Paaño, 26 years old, was able to post some photos of her vacation on social media when she went to Bali last December 22, 2018.

But last August, her body was found rotting inside a box in a filthy part of Bali.

"Sabi po ng doktor na nag-DNA po sa amin, nu'ng nagpa-DNA po kami ng July or August po, sabi po doon parang hindi pa po matagal namatay, four months ago lang daw po," said Eden Paaño, Paaño's sister.

It was on Dec. 24, 2018 when Paaño last communicated with her family. She was reported missing at the Philippine Embassy in Jakarta in January.

Her family searched for her for eleven months.

The Department of Foreign Affairs confirmed in November that the family's DNA matched with that of the body found inside the box.

According to Paaño's family, Ella was with a Russian woman while on vacation in Bali, who is a workmate of their sibling working at a resort in Palawan.

"Nu'ng kinontak po namin siya, sabi niya daw po hindi niya raw po alam kung nasaan 'yung kapatid ko... Umalis daw po siya pumunta ng Papua New Guinea. Iniwan niya daw po 'yung kapatid ko doon sa Bali... Siya lang po talaga 'tong makakasagot ng lahat po. Kasi siya po 'yung kasama do'n... Kaya alam ko pong siya po ang may kinalaman," added Eden Paaño.

Anastacio Ostonal, Ella's cousin and co-worker, said the victim was close to her Spanish employer.

It was Ella's Spanish employer who encouraged her to travel to Indonesia to have her passport stamped so he could take her to Spain.

"Wala naman po siyang kaaway doon. Ang dahilan lang po siguro nagseselos lang 'yung Russian na 'yon... Ang may relasyon ''yung nakikita ko, 'yung Russian [tsaka 'yung] boss [na Spanish]," said Ostonal.

The family could no longer contact Ella's Spanish employer and the Russian woman who was with her.

"Sana po tulungan niyo kaming malutas ang kaso ng kapatid ko... Sobrang bait po talaga niyan. Matulungin po... Sabi po niya kahit 'di na po siya magkaroon ng sariling pamilya, matulungan niya lang 'yung mga kapatid niya," said Paaño.

The government shouldered Ella's repatriation and the family's funeral expenses.

However, the family still sought for another autopsy of Ella's remains to find out exactly the cause of her death. — MDM, GMA News