Bones taken to unnamed crypts after cemetery deals run out

Editha Mirafuentes had to light a candle for her late youngest child at a common area in the Bagbag Public Cemetery.

According to Maki Pulido's report on "24 Oras," remains in the apartment type tombs of the cemetery had to be removed after five years and Editha still didn't have the money to pay for a skeleton vault worth P4,500.

She didn't know where the bones of her child were among the nameless crypts covered by GI sheets.

“Masakit din po kasi di mo na alam kung saan nakalagay yung buto niya,” Editha said.

(It hurts because you no longer know where the bones are.)

Marlyn dela Cruz also left a plastic bag of pancit in the common area for his late nephew, who died in the Duterte administration's war on drugs.

“Kung saan-saan na lang siya nilalagay na hindi namin makita. 'Di namin alam kung saan dito,” Marlyn said as the remains of her nephew was also taken to the "kumon" or "pangkahalatan."

(He could have been brought anywhere without thought and we could no longer find him. We don't where he is here) 

The management of Bagbag cemetery said that unlike other public cemeteries, the remains taken from the apartment-type crypts are individually kept in plastic bags or sacks, along with their respective tomb stones.

This is supposed to help the relatives of the dead to locate the remains when they are already prepared to have them transferred to their new resting places.

Meanwhile, the Philippine Mortuary Association recommended cremation as a viable option for lower fees.

“May mga option na rin ang mga public LGUs na nagpro-provide ng libre, sometimes at a much more discounted rate," said Jordan Miranda of the Philippine Mortuary Association.

(Some LGUs provide cremation for free or sometimes, at a much more discounted rate)

"They don’t need a cemetery eh,” Miranda said. —Jiselle Casucian/NB, GMA Integrated News