Cebu solons thank Interpol

CEBU - As members of International Police’s Incident Response Team (IRT) prepare to return to their headquarters in Lyon, France this month, Cebu’s eight congressmen recognized the IRT for “heroic acts” and “exceptional efforts” in giving many families of Typhoon Frank a dignified closure.

House Deputy Speaker and Cebu second district Representative Pablo Garcia said that while the task of Interpol in identifying remains in advances stages of decomposition was daunting, Interpol gave hope to the grieving families who had been reunited with their loved-ones.

“Despite your separation from your own families, you did months of commendable critical work as efficiently and swiftly as possible while simultaneously providing a range of investigative and analytical support to the Philippine authorities,   your heroic acts make us Filipinos proud for being fortunate enough to be given the chance to work with experts belonging to a competent international organization ready to provide assistance to a nation in distress,” Garcia said.

Cebu City north district Rep. Raul del Mar, who earlier filed a resolution in Congress commending Interpol for the help it extended to the Philippines, described the IRT’s seven-month mission in the country as an “extraordinary display of humanitarian concern.”

Cebu first district Rep. Eduardo Gullas noted that Interpol provided “highly professional service to the Filipino people at a time of great tragedy to the nation.”

“I salute all of you for the very good work of identifying victims of Typhoon Frank to the best of your abilities,” Cebu City south district Rep. Antonio Cuenco said.

 Cebu third district Rep. Pablo John Garcia and sixth district Rep. Nerissa Soon-Ruiz agreed that the huge task of identifying victims could not have been handled by the Philippines alone. 

“The task of identifying victims, so that families and loved ones may pay their last respects, was thankless and difficult, one which would not have been possible without Interpol's expertise, patience and dedication,” Garcia said.

“Their results were necessary so that those the victims left behind might deal with the pain of loss, and see a dignified closure, but more importantly, the whole experience -- and the lessons Interpol imparted and which we eagerly embraced -- left all of us more knowledgeable, and readier to face similar catastrophes in the future,” he added.

“This spirit of cooperation shown to us by Interpol inspires much hope from us for a future in the Philippines with Interpol still very much in the picture, assisting our law enforcement agencies regularly through police trainings and shared information technology, Soon-Ruiz said in a statement jointly issued by all Cebu Representatives to Congress. 

Cebu fifth district Rep. Ramon “Red” Durano VI meanwhile described the IRT as “modern day heroes who paved the way for reuniting us with our lost loved ones.”

“Interpol has given the surviving family members of the victims, a spark of hope,” Durano said.

Cebu fourth district Rep. Benhur Salimbangon, whose district was among those badly damaged by the typhoon and suffered scores of casualties, thanked Interpol for the peace they gave many grieving families as to give respect and dignity to our beloved dead is a cherished Filipino value, he said.

“The INTERPOL’S efficient and accurate identification of the victims of Typhoon Frank gave many the chance to honor their beloved dead. For days, weeks, even months, families were kept in anxiety and suspended animation. As the father of the district, I shared their pain of waiting, of not knowing. . . until INTERPOL stepped in to share their time, resources, and expertise. Finally – a closure,” Salimbangon said.

The IRT arrived in Cebu on June 29 last year at the Philippine government’s request for assistance to identify the bodies of hundreds of people drowned at the height of Typhoon Frank. Since then, the team has been staffed by six members to provide a wide range of investigative and analytical support to the Philippine authorities.

A fully equipped multi-purpose mobile laboratory which will enable the Philippines to run additional future body recoveries or DNA tests on disaster victims will be donated by INTERPOL in a ceremony on February 5 to be attended by INTERPOL Secretary General Ronald K. Noble. – Rosemarie Borromeo/LPM   (THE FREEMAN)