ILOILO CITY, Aug. 19 (PIA) - - The remains of the Overseas Filipino Worker (OFW) from the province of Guimaras who died in the explosion in Beirut, Lebanon was flown home Tuesday, August 18, 2020.

The Guimaras Public Information and Relations Unit reported that the body of Milagros Sumaculob was flown from Beirut via Qatar Airways on August 17, 2020 and was transported by the Philippine Air Force going to Iloilo.

Members of the family, representatives from the Provincial Government of Guimaras, Office of Civil Defense, and Overseas Workers Welfare Administration received the body of Sumaculob at the Iloilo Airport.

Sumaculob, 67, a resident of New Poblacion in Buenavista town, died at the American University Hospital where she was brought after the blast.

Patrick Ceasar Sumaculob, son of the deceased, was grateful that the body of his mother was repatriated swiftly despite travel restrictions due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

He said that he knows his mother is happy now that she will be laid to rest at the place where she was born and grew up.

Also, the Sumaculob family expressed gratitude to the agencies and the Provincial Government of Guimaras for facilitating the repatriation of the remains.

The office of Senator Bong Go, the Department of Foreign Affairs, OWWA and the OCD worked hand-in-hand with the Provincial Government of Guimaras for the swift repatriation of the remains of Sumaculob from Lebanon while the Philippine Air Force transported the cadaver to Iloilo.

While grieving for the loss of a fellow Guimarasnon, Governor Samuel T. Gumarin was pleased that the family was given a chance to pay their last respects to the deceased OFW.

Gumarin was also grateful for the assistance extended by the different agencies to the family and to the Provincial Government of Guimaras for the transport of Milagros' body.

He assured the bereaved family of the support of the Provincial Government until the OFW's body will be laid to rest.

Sumaculob went to Lebanon in June 2018 and was supposed to come home for good this December. (Guimaras-PIRU/JSC/laf/PIA6 Iloilo)