Teeth, no mole confirm OFW cadaver mix-up

MANILA – The remains of an overseas Filipino worker (OFW) who died after a heart attack in Tel Aviv are still in Israel, a relative in the Philippines told DZMM on Tuesday.

"Nagkaroon na po ng linaw. Na-identify na, nandoon pa yung kapatid ko," said June Peralta.

Peralta's brother, 53-year-old Fernando, died last May 25 in Tel Aviv. The OFW worked as a caregiver.

WATCH: Maling bangkay mula Israel, ibinigay sa pamilya ng OFW

However, a mix-up caused more anguish for the family after the body of another man was shipped to the Philippines and picked up by Peralta's relatives at the airport last June 4.

June said funeral parlor employees who were with them were not allowed to open the casket at the cargo area, so they based everything on the documents handed to them, which matched the name and other information about his brother.

"Ibiniyahe na po namin. Andyan na po yung mga pamangkin nagiiyakan na kung ano-ano hanggang sa pagdating dito sa bayan ng Porac punenarya, ibinaba po namin, pinabukasan ko, pagtingin namin, kakaiba. Hindi po siya," June said.

He said the cadaver had no mole on the forehead.

"Unang-una, yung kapatid ko, may nunal. Yung kapatid ko, false teeth. Sa ospital pa lang, tinanggal na ipin niya so dapat wala siyang suot na ipin. Sabi ko tingnan mo nga kako yung ngipin niya. Pag ganun ng embalmer sa ngipin niya, ang ngipin niya ay permanent. Kahit anong hila, hindi matanggal," he said.

He added, "Yung bangkay, taga, Beijing, China ata po yun. Kasalukuyang yung embahada doon sa Israel hinahanap na po yan."

June advised those assisting in the repatriation of his brother's remains to check properly first to make sure that it's his brother they're sending back home to the Philippines. -- Report from DZMM