Prolonged presence of body concerns funeral parlor owner

CEBU, Philippines - The family of Norwegian national Isaksen Knut Aksel who drowned while swimming in Malapascua Island on Christmas Eve is reportedly still in shock and the Norwegian Embassy in Manila still has not arrived at a decision as to what to do with Aksel’s remains, the owner of the funeral parlor in Daanbantayan town said.

Malou Pepito, owner of the Our Lady of Rule funeral parlor, yesterday expressed concern over the dormancy of the situation, saying the prolonged presence of Aksel’s body at her funeral parlor “hampers her activity.”

Aksel’s remains have been embalmed and placed in a casket, but Pepito said they would need to keep it sanitized everyday by spraying the room where the casket is placed, which is a continuing expense on their part. Likewise, she also could not leave the funeral parlor anytime she wants because someone might arrive to claim the body.

Pepito said the situation has somehow hampered her activities, especially that she is running for councilor in the town.

Pepito said the Norwegian embassy in Manila has communicated with her about the incident, but no decision has been arrived at because Aksel’s family reportedly remains in shock.

Aksel, 45, a student diver, reportedly went with his dive instructor, Tim Latimer, to watch hammerhead sharks down in the deep of Monad Shoal on December 24.

Around 11 am, their companions who remained on the boat saw the Aksel’s body already floating on the water face down.

He was pronounced dead on arrival at the Daanbantayan District Hospital. Nicomedes Jabel, a physician in the hospital, said that the caused of death was drowning.

The finding was confirmed in the autopsy report conducted by Dr. Nestor Satur of the National Bureau of Investigation on December 26. — Gregg M. Rubio /JMO   (FREEMAN NEWS)