Remains of Filipino couple who drowned in Maldives now in Laguna

MANILA, Philippines — The remains of the Filipino couple who drowned in the Maldives are now back in their hometown in Laguna.

The bodies of Leomer and Erika Joyce Lagradilla arrived at the Ninoy Aquino International Terminal 1 on board Etihad Airways flight EY-424 at 3:26 p.m. on Saturday.

The couple’s remains were transported to Laguna on Saturday evening.

Erika’s wake will be in her home in Sta. Cruz, Laguna but her remains will be brought to her husband’s home in Lumban, Laguna on Wednesday. Their burial is set on January 26.

Last week, the Lagradilla couple’s family and friends asked for the public’s help to bring back their remains to the Philippines. The repatriation costs around P1.2 million.

The kin, however, stopped the fundraising after the Department of Foreign Affairs vowed to shoulder repatriation but it was the Maldives Ministry of Tourism that shouldered the repatriation costs for the deceased couple.

The two were both nurses based in Singapore and Riyadh, respectively, who were married last December 18. They traveled to the Maldives for their honeymoon on January 11.

Erika was 29 while Leomer was 30 years old.

The DFA said the couple drowned off Dhiffushi island while snorkeling. This was reported to the DFA by the Philippine embassy in Dhaka which has the jurisdiction over the Maldives. — Rosette Adel