ISA PANG PINOY PATAY SA HAWAII WILDFIRES

ISA pang Pilipino ang kinumpirmang nasawi sa malawakang wildfires sa Maui noong nakaraang Aug. 8, ayon sa Philippine Consulate sa Honolulu.

Ang ikalawang Filipino casualty ay kinilalang si Rodolfo Rocutan, 76, na kabilang sa limang pinakahuling nasawi na kinilala ng mga opisyal ng Maui County noong Aug. 20.

Ayon sa Philippine consulate, si Rocutan ay residente ng Lahaina, na matatagpuan sa kanlurang bahagi ng Maui.
Kinumpirma rin ng apo ni Rocutan na si Rhea Valenzuela ang kanyang pagkamatay.

“Papa oppo is my late grandpa’s brother. But he acted and treated me like his own granddaughter. He is wise, friendly, caring, and loving Father and Grandfather. All his immediate family are in the Philippines (his sons), sadly his wife mommy renang passed away year 2021(COVID time),” aniya sa isang post sa Facebook.

“He’s living in Lahaina Maui with his sister Grandma/Mommy Ely(survivor of Lahaina Maui Wildfire), they lost their house and didn’t save anything as well,” dagdag pa niya.

“His family in Hawaii and in the Philippines will definitely miss him.”

“We will never forget his beautiful laugh, he calls everyone to check if we’re all ok. He is a wonderful man with a good personality. Good soul,” pahayag niya sa CNN Philippines.

Sinabi pa ni Valenzuela na ipinagmamalaki ng kanyang “Papa Oppo” ang pagiging Pilipino sa kabila ng paninirahan sa United States.

“He is proud Filipino. Even though he is living his dream in USA,” pagbabahagi ni Valenzuela. “Filipino Immigrant, he didn’t change his nationality.”

Naglunsad din ang apo ni Rocutan ng GoFundMe campaign para sa kanyang funeral services.

Subalit sinabi ng Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) na magbibigay ang Philippine government ng tulong pinansiyal sa pamilya ni Rocutan.

“The Consulate has reached out to a relative of the late Mr. Rocutan to convey its deepest sympathies and offer the Philippine government’s support and assistance, including cremation and repatriation of remains as requested,” wika ni Consul General Emilio Fernandez sa isang statement.

Noong nakaraang Aug. 18 ay kinumpirma ng DFA na ang 79-anyos na si Alfredo Galinato ang unang Filipino casualty na iniulat sa wildfires na kumitil sa mahigit 100 katao.

-ULAT MULA SA CNN PHILIPPINES