Funeral parlors ask for patience from kin of Resorts World incident victims

The relatives of the victims of the Resorts World Manila incident were asked by officials of funeral parlors to be patient because they have to follow lengthy government procedures.

"Ang pag-eksamin naman ng forensic natin, mga medico legal natin, matagal din silang mag-exam ng body. Pagkatapos niyan isusunod na uli, pagkatapos niyan di naman agad-agad isunod na uli, embalma agad... meron pa tayong procedure na binababad muna 'yan. Pinakamabilis na sa isang body four hours, sa isang autopsyado... Matrabaho ang isang body," Bebot Lim, head of Rizal Funeral Homes - Sucat branch, told GMA News Online.

"Base sa experience ko, hindi kami nagbibigay ng definite time sa namatayan. Kasi sometimes 'yung reaction ng body sa formalin, hindi naman ganon kabilis," Lim added.

Lim also took note that the bodies were turned over to them 12 hours after the incident.

"Late na rin namang dumating sa amin ang body. Na-relay sa amin after almost 12 hours following the incident sa Resorts World," he said. "Hindi rin na-release ang mga bodies agad, kasi matagal mag-investigate."

Lim said 18 bodies were brought to their funeral parlor following the attack in the posh hotel-casino last Friday.

Meanwhile, Ellen Hilario, wife of Rodel Hilario, owner of the Rizal Funeral Homes, also expressed her sentiments following the Resorts World Manila attack, wherein their funeral parlor was heavily criticized.

Hilario explains that they have to follow procedures required of funeral parlors.

"May procedure talaga... Hindi pupuwedeng basta na lang embalsamahin, basta na lang i-autopsy 'yon, kailangan siyempre may tao don na may kamag-anak at saka 'yung sa Resorts World di ba?" Hilario said.

"'Yung sitwasyon na namatay na ganon, very tragic 'yung pagkamatay ng mga tao... parang ano sila, kung makakausap mo 'yung mga ahente, 'yung asawa ko mismo, hindi sila bara-barang kumausap sa mga tao, may respeto kasi namatayan eh," she added.

Asks for understanding

Ellen hopes that the family of the victims of the tragic incident, in which 38 died including the gunman, will also understand the side of the funeral parlor, noting that there is a procedure being followed by the staff of Rizal Funeral Homes.

"Ang message ko na lang sana naman maintindihan din nila, naintindihan ko kasi 'yung tragic na pagkamatay ng pamliya nila. Siyempre sa ganong pagkakataon, galit, 'yung galit sa Resorts World napunta na rin sa Rizal... Naiintindihan ko matagal, pero may process 'yun. Hindi mo pwedeng gawin 'yung trabahong three hours, four hours, pwede mo gawin ng half an hour. Hindi pupuwede 'yung ganon," Hilario said.

Ellen also took note that a lot of people rushed to the funeral parlor after the incident, saying that it seemed difficult for Rizal Funeral Parlor to accommodate all the family members.

"Nakikita ko 'yung frustrations nila pero ang ano ko lang naman sana wag sisihin ang Rizal... Hindi lang isang kapamilya 'yung dumating halimbawa isa ang namatay, minsan dadating 'yung nanay, yung tatay, 'yung  kapatid, asawa, apat eh kita mo naman siguro na hindi ganon kalaki 'yung facility ng Rizal para i-accommodate lahat ng tao. Siksikan gitgitan, gustong mauna nung isa... kailangan first come, first served," she said.

"Ang tagal nilang naghintay, gutom na sila, pagod na... mainit na, sana ganon lang, nakikiramay kami pero sana maintindihan nila na anuhan din nila ang Rizal, hindi naman inexpect ng tauhan na ganon kadami ang dadating," Hilario added.

The funeral parlor also expressed sympathy and apologies to the victims' kin, hoping that justice will be served following the death of their loved ones.

"Humihingi kami ng paumanhin, nagpapakumbaba ang Rizal. Siguro masasabi namin na di tayo perpekto sa panahon ng pangyayaring ganon. Kaya kami, kung ano man ang kakayanan ng Rizal, ginawa namin. Ngayon kung sakaling di man sila nasiyahan, kami na po ang humihingi ng dispensa, dispensa lang po at paguunawa," Lim said. — BAP, GMA News