2 OFWs perish in Macau fire, kin in Pangasinan say

Four people — two of them overseas Filipino workers — died in a fire that razed a boardinghouse in Macau Wednesday, relatives of one of the OFWs said.

Kin of Paul Angelo Lita in Barangay Poblacion in Villasis town in Pangasinan said the fire occurred at 3 a.m. Wednesday, GMA Dagupan reported Thursday.

Lita's mother said four people were killed in the fire. The report identified another OFW fatality as Marites Natino, also of Villasis town.

The report said Lita worked as a waiter in Macau for nine months, and was to return home in December for the birthday of his child and for Christmas.

"Nananawagan po ako kung sino ang makakatulong sa amin na maiuwi lang po yung kapatid ko rito. Mabigyan ng maayos na libing. Yun po ang gusto namin ngayon," said his sister Kaye Silvan.

Meanwhile, the relatives of the victims are contacting authorities to get more information.

"Kung ano man yung advice, kasi hinihintay ko rin yung tawag ng Philippine embassy dahil sa sabi kung wala man, hindi po namin alam kung paano. Sa ngayon pinapasa-Diyos pa namin lahat," said Keith Lita.

A report on the South China Morning Post said the remains of the victims were charred inside a Macau boutique.

Investigators were quoted in the report as saying some circumstances of the blaze could be "suspicious."

The SCMP report also quoted local media as saying the four fatalities may have included "three women and a man" and could be "South Asians." —Joel Locsin/KBK, GMA News

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