3 Filipinos dead in Taiwan fire – Bello

MANILA, Philippines — Three Filipinos died and five others were injured after a fire struck a food factory in Taiwan, Manila Economic and Cultural Office (MECO) chairman Silvestre Bello III confirmed yesterday.

Bello condoled with the families of the Filipinos who died in a fire that broke out at Lian Hwa Foods Corp. in Changhua county on Tuesday.

The fatalities were Renato Larua, 30, of Cavite; Nancy Revilla of Marinduque and Aroma Miranda of Tarlac.

Five Filipino workers remain under observation in different hospitals in central Taiwan. They are Sheila May Abas of Negros Occidental, Jessie Boy Samson, Maricris Fernando of La Union, Rodel Uttao and Santiago Suba Jr.

Their families have been informed of the incident, according to Bello.

Bello, a former labor and justice secretary, assured the families of the victims that they would receive benefits both from the Philippine and Taiwan governments.

He said the government would initially give the victims’ families P5,000 each to help with their expenses.

The MECO is coordinating with the Taiwan government for the repatriation of the remains of the fire victims, he said.