Philippines remembers ill-fated Malaysian Airlines flight MH17

Philippines remembers ill-fated Malaysian Airlines Flight MH17

MANILA – The Department of Foreign Affairs today said the Philippine government remembers the ill-fated Malaysian Airlines flight MH17 which was shot down in the eastern region of Ukraine on this day in 2014. A Filipino woman and her two children died along with 298 passengers of the commercial flight in the incident.

“As a Grieving Nation, the Philippines on this solemn day renews its solidarity with the governments of other Grieving Nations who lost citizens in the ill-fated flight, and offers its prayers to the families and loved ones of the victims as they continue to suffer this insurmountable loss,” the DFA said in a statement released Friday afternoon.

The DFA expressed optimism the victims will be accorded the justice they deserve.

The Malaysian Airlines flight was en route to Kuala Lumpur from Amsterdam when it was hit by a missile on this day in 2014 while over the rebel-controlled eastern Ukraine. It became one of the most tragic chapters in the bloody separatist conflict in Eastern Europe.

About a hundred of the passengers were said to be AIDS researchers and other medical personnel and activities attending an international society conference on AIDS in Melbourne.

There was a report from the organizers that 108 of the passengers were listed conference delegates. There were 44 Malaysians including 15 crewmembers and two infants.

The nationalities of 18 others were not ascertained as of the early hours after the crash. (Melo M. Acuña)

Department of Foreign Affairs official seal.