Kin of Filipinos in MH17 crash to fly to the Netherlands to see remains



World leaders demand Russias hand in MH17 crash site
World leaders demand Russia's hand in MH17 crash site. Ukrainian State Emergency Service personnel collect bodies of victims at the crash site of the Malaysia Airlines plane in Grabove, in rebel-held east Ukraine on Sunday, July 20. The missile system used to shoot down the plane was handed to pro-Russian separatists in Ukraine by Moscow, a top US diplomat said Sunday. Outraged world leaders have demanded Russia's immediate cooperation in a prompt and independent probe of the incident. AFP/Bulent Kilic
Relatives of the Filipino victims of last week's crash of a Malaysia Airlines flight are set to fly to the Netherlands to see their loved ones' remains, a report on GMA News TV's “News To Go” said Monday.

The report said the family of Irene Gunawan in Pagbilao, Quezon, is in touch with the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), which is helping arrange for their trip to the Netherlands, where the remains of Gunawan and her children Darryl and Sherryl are expected to be taken.

Malaysia Airlines will shoulder their fare, the report added.

"Baka sakali na lang ako," Gunawan's brother, Tirso Pabellon, told GMA News. "Kung sakaling makuha nga 'yung bangkay ng mga bata, kahit ako'y nalulungkot ay [kung] nakita ko rin sa huling sandali, maligaya na 'ko nu'n."

The Gunawans were among the 298 people — 283 passengers from 11 countries and 15 Malaysia crew — on board Flight MH17, which crashed in eastern Ukraine after it was shot down from the ground.

Gunawan and her children were holders of Philippine passports, the DFA said.

Commemoration

While waiting for the flight, Gunawan's relatives are left only to reminisce the good times they shared with Irene, Darryl, and Sherryl through videos of their family reunions over the past years.

The videos, which they shared with GMA News, were taken by Gunawan's husband, Buddy, an Indonesian who was also killed in the crash.

Meanwhile, a glimpse on the social media accounts of Gunawan's children shows the lives and interests of the two prior to the incident.

Darryl, a medical student, was into photography, film, and graphic design. He was also a disc jockey. The blog of his sister, Sherryl, meanwhile, had the banner "Living my life to the fullest." She was into music, dancing, skateboarding, and arts.

Other ways of remembering the victims have been put in place in different countries following the crash.

In the Netherlands, a national commemorative service was held to pray for the victims, more than half of whom were Dutch.

Meanwhile, a candlelight vigil was held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, where participants not only prayed for the victims and their families, but also called to make those responsible for the crash accountable.—Rose-An Jessica Dioquino/KBK, GMA News

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