Bulletin: On the Repatriation of Filipino Drowning Victims in Maldives

15 January 2019 – The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) has just been informed that the remains of the Filipino couple who drowned in the Maldives will be flown shortly to Sri Lanka where they will be embalmed before their final journey home.

The Philippine Embassy in Dhaka said that the remains of Leomer Lagradilla and his wife Erika Joyce will be flown on board a Sri Lankan Airlines flight that will be leaving for Colombo at 12:50 a.m. Manila time.

Embassy Chargé d’Affaires LV de Guzman said a relative of the couple is also on the same flight. She said the Philippine Honorary Consulate in Male helped arrange the repatriation of the remains.

A representative was present during the sealing of the caskets, which came hours after family members met with Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro L. Locsin Jr. who assured them that the Department will shoulder the cost of bringing the couple home.

The two newly-wed nurses were on their honeymoon in the Maldives when they both drowned on Sunday. END