Dead Norwegian still unburied in Zarraga
Marivic Despe with her three-year old
daughter in front of their house where
Antonsen's body is being laid up to the
present
Zarraga, Iloilo -- A Norwegian national who died almost a month ago due to illness remains unburied in his house in Brgy. Tuburan Sulbod, Zarraga, Iloilo up to this time. His live-in partner Marivic Despe, 28, said she does not have the money to spend for the burial of Jan Helgensen Antonsen whom she had lived with for about four years before his demise. They have a three-year old daughter.
Antonsen died of cirrhosis of the liver at the age of 52 in Iloilo Mission Hospital (IMH) last October 14, 2005. Marivic said she even has unpaid hospital bills at the IMH amounting to P336,794.44. The hospital could have not released the death certificate of the Norwegian if not for the promissory note guaranteed by Brgy. Capt. Rosita Seloterio of Brgy. Tuburan, Sulbod.
Antonsen was confined at IMH starting June 2005.
Marivic added, she has not also settled her accounts with a funeral home for the embalming services and casket of Antonsen amounting to about P30,000.
Concerned of the situation, Brgy. Capt. Seloterio came to Mayor Gregorio Brasas of Zarraga for help. Unfortunately, the mayor simply referred her to the Department of Social Welfare and Development which in turn referred her back to the local government.
Deep in debts, Marivic seems hopeless about having the body of her live-in partner buried. She now turned to the Norwegian government for help.
With the help of Ben Keultjes, a retired officer of the Royal Dutch Navy who is also living in Zarraga, Marivic's sad situation reached the attention of the Norwegian Embassy in Manila.
However, Keultjes said that based on the communications he received from the embassy the Norwegian government is not inclined to help as there is allegedly 'no fund.'
Even Antonsen's family, whom Keultjes has reached through e-mail allegedly could not offer help as they also do not have money.
Brgy. Capt. Seloterio is now afraid of the health hazard the dead body may cause in their place if it remains unburied for a long time.
She said the funeral parlor even warned not to inject additional formalin to the cadaver anymore as Marivic still have outstanding bills with them. Every injected formalin lasts only for fifteen days and it is quite expensive.
Seloterio said it would be a big problem if the body starts decomposing.
Marivic hardly have a choice. Having nothing to spend and no one to turn to, Marivic is appealing for the help of the local government just to have Antonsen's body buried decently. As for their pending accountabilities Marivic is hoping that the Norwegian government would extend their help to one of their people.