The body of the Filipino domestic helper who died in Hong Kong’s deadly blaze last month has been repatriated to her home country, with a senior Philippine official hailing her as a heroine.
Separately, Hong Kong’s Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs Alice Mak Mei-kuen pledged on Sunday to provide long-term support in stages for residents affected by the Wang Fuk Court fire through its dedicated fund, which has reached about HK$4 billion (US$514 million).
According to Filipino Secretary for Migrant Workers Hans Leo Cacdac, the remains of Maryan Pascual Esteban, a 39-year-old helper who died in the devastating fire, arrived in the Philippines on Saturday night.
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“[We] offered for her our prayers and respects as a slain overseas Filipino worker heroine,” Cacdac said on social media, posting a photo of people bowing their heads at the coffin of Esteban.
Esteban’s family had earlier reflected their wishes for her body to be brought back to their home in Isabela province in the northern Philippines before Christmas.
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Mission for Migrant Workers also argued that her body could have been repatriated sooner if the Philippine government and consulate had “in the very first instance owned up to their responsibility” rather than sought the Hong Kong administration’s help.