Condition of injured RP soldier in Haiti quake improves

The condition of a Filipino peacekeeper injured in last week's devastating quake in Haiti has improved, allowing him to be transferred from a hospital to a local clinic, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said on Monday.

Staff Sergeant Bonifacio Paet was transferred from the Argentine Hospital to the Philippine Contingent Clinic, according to an article in the DFA Web site.

The DFA also said Philippine officials have met with leaders of the Filipino community in Haiti to discuss their concerns.

Philippine Ambassador to Havana Macarthur Corsino was to arrive in Port-au-Prince Monday afternoon (Haiti time) to coordinate ongoing relief efforts there. Corsino received instructions from DFA Secretary Alberto Romulo to proceed to Haiti to oversee relief operations for Filipinos there and to present a plan of action for the repatriation of Filipinos who would want to go back to Manila.


The Philippine Embassy team will link up with the peacekeeping contingent, Philippine Honorary Consul in Haiti Fitzgerald Brandt, and Filipino community members, the article read.

The DFA also said 10th Philippine Contingent Commander Lt. Col. Lope Dagoy met Sunday with the leaders of the Filipino community in Delmas villages led by their president, Francisco Bagadiong.

An initial census in Delmas showed some 100 Filipinos there were found to be in good physical condition. Six, meanwhile, remain trapped in the rubble.

"The Filipino community leaders and Contingent Commander Dagoy discussed the on-going accounting of Filipinos in Haiti and their families, their concerns and needs, and a listing of those who wish to be repatriated to the Philippines," the DFA said.

It added the Filipinos conveyed the immediate need for tents for those whose houses were damaged.

"Earlier, Filipinos in the Delmas district were given rice, sugar, oatmeal, and bottles of coffee. They were also given instructions on how to contact the Philippine Contingent using all available means," the DFA said. - KBK/RSJ, GMANews.TV

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