The mother of Daniel Paulo Paulino Paraiso and Anna Paula Paulino, two of the victims of last Good Friday’s Abu Dhabi road mishap, has expressed dismay over the car rental company’s alleged gaffe in ensuring proper customer service.
At the same time 50-year-old Baby Paulino, herself an overseas worker in Dubai who had gone home for good in 2014, expressed heartfelt gratitude to embassy and consulate officials as well as the Filipino community in the UAE for their overwhelming support.
“Nagpapasalamat po kami sa embassy at sa consulate, di kami nahihirapan na maiuwi ang mga labi ng mga bata at tinutulungan nila kaming mapabilis ang process,” Paulino told The Filipino Times in an exclusive Facebook PM interview from the Philippines.
“Sa mga kaibigan namin at mga kamag-anak, at higit sa lahat sa mga hindi namin kakilala na nagbigay ng tulong pinansiyal, moral support at prayers, taus-puso po ang aming pasasalamat,” she added.
Paulino, who had worked as a receptionist/secretary, said the car rental company should have given specific instructions and safety measures to the group should an emergency arise.
“Ewan ko kung sino dapat sisihin. Kasi dapat sinabihan na pag nasiraan, tumawag sa kanila (rental shop),” Paulino said.
Netizens, commenting on a TFT post about the incident, said the car rental shop should be held accountable, even going as far as alleging that the company may have issued a defective vehicle.
The SUV that the group of six overseas Filipinos were riding in on their way to St. Joseph Church in Abu Dhabi from Dubai for the traditional Good Friday “Bisita Iglesia” conked out in the middle of Sheikh Maktoum Bin Rashid Road in Shahama area around 7am, according to reports.
Four of the occupants – 39-year-old, Veronica Dulay, the driver and an administrative secretary; Daniel Paulo Paulino Paraiso, 31; Lord Christian Elli, 29; and Marvin Mendoza, 28 – alighted to check. Moments later, another SUV rammed the stalled vehicle from behind along with the four who were standing next to it.
Police are investigating the incident.
Anna Paula Paulino and Mary Anne Mendoza who were rushed to the Al Rahba Hospital in critical condition are now out of the intensive care unit, according to Baby Paulino.
The driver of the SUV, who was also rushed to a hospital, is already reportedly under Abu Dhabi police custody pending investigation.
Baby Paulino refused to comment on the development of the case. She nonetheless expressed gratitude to the Philippine Embassy and the Philippine Consulate General for helping them in processing the repatriation of the deceased’s remains.
Paulino said families are now working on the repatriation of the four deceased. “They will be repatriated anytime soon, po,” she said.
The picture of the victims used by The Filipino Times in its online news report of the incident was culled from Baby Paulino’s FB page. The picture, a selfie of the victims believed taken before the accident, was shared to Baby by her daughter, Anna Paula apparently while tragedy laid in wait on the road ahead. (With Jojo Dass)
Photo caption:
(Front L) Marvin Mendoza; (front R) Veronica Dulay; (2nd row L) Daniel Paulo Paulino Paraiso; (2nd row R) Mary Ann Mendoza; (back L) Anna Paula Paulino and (back R) Lord Christian Elli.
