This was disclosed yesterday by the US Embassy-Manila chief consul Christopher Rowan in a talk during the first trade show and conference in line with the funeral profession dubbed "Going Home: A Closer Look at Repatriation," organized by the Pacific Center for Advanced Studies (PCAS).
"Providing assistance to the relatives of the US citizens who die abroad is one of the most difficult and important services performed by the consular officers," Rowan said adding that they have the statutory or legal responsibilities to conserve the estate of the deceased.
He said that the death and the pertinent details of a US citizen should be reported immediately to them so that they will contact and notify the next of kin of the deceased in the US. "The Embassy is required to report the death of American civilians to their next kin and the Department of State. Consequently, we need to know the deceased person's name, date and place of birth, passport number, date and place of birth, cause of death and the location of the remains. We also need the full name and address of the next kin so that we can determine their instructions regarding arrangements for the deceased," Rowan disclosed. "The consular officer's action will be governed by the desires of the closest relative, who is usually living in the US, far from the scene of death and unfamiliar with foreign laws concerning death and disposition of remains," he said. For cases wherein the deceased has a legal next of kin in the Philippines, the Embassy will still act on it and assist the former. "The Embassy however, is not capable of paying for the expenses incurred," he disclosed. On worst cases wherein the relatives of the deceased can't be found, Rowan said that there will be charitable institutions who will aid for the burial of the deceased like the American Association of the Philippines. Though this is not a new thing for them, the challenges for the embassy however is always present and he said these challenges lie mainly on the physical distance and requirements, cross-cultural communications and the disposition of the estate and other properties left behind.
Moreover, the appropriate Embassy office is the American Citizen Services Unit and that can be reached through telephone number +632-528-6300. - Bon JP Largo