Philippines Telephone: +632 8858 2200 Facsimile: +632 8858 2342 Contact Form: Website

CONSULAR SECTION

THE BRITISH EMBASSY 120 Upper Mckinley Road, Mckinley Hill Taguig City 1634 Metro Manila Philippines Telephone: +632 8858 2200 Facsimile: +632 8858 2342 Contact form: www.gov.uk/contact-consulate-manila Website: www.gov.uk/world/philippines

PHILIPPINES: Bereavement Pack and Death information July 2021

Introduction

When a relative or friend dies abroad, the different procedures, laws or language can cause additional distress. You may be uncertain about what to do or who to contact.

This country specific information is designed to help you through some of the practical arrangements you may need to make. It supplements the general information on death abroad (http://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coping-with-death-abroad) produced by the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office, which applies to all countries.

Please note, as each country has its own laws and customs when a death occurs, it may not be possible to make the arrangements that you prefer, or at the time you would like.

How to contact the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office

There is a lot of information below, but you may have questions. You can speak to someone by phone 24/7, any day of the year by contacting the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office in London on 0207 008 5000.

If you are not in the UK, you can find the contact details of the nearest British embassy, high commission or consulate (http://www.gov.uk/government/world/embassies).

British Embassy Manila

Address: 120 Upper McKinley Road, McKinley Hill, Taguig City, Philippines 1634

Phone: +63 (02) 8858 2200

Webform: www.gov.uk/contact-consulate-manila

The priority of the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office is to provide assistance to British nationals overseas who need the most help. The level and type of assistance they can offer is tailored to the individual circumstances of each case

The information contained in this document is not meant to be a definitive statement of the law, nor is it to be taken as a substitute for independent legal advice.

Next of Kin

The next of kin of the person who died will usually need to decide between local burial, cremation or bringing the person home (UK/overseas), which is known as repatriation.

There is no legal definition of next of kin in the UK. Please note that if there is a disagreement over who is next of kin, or the person who died did not choose a next of kind, this can cause additional complications.

In the Philippines, the death of a British national is usually reported to the embassy by the local police, hospitals, undertakers, families or friends of the deceased.

Local undertakers require an immediate family member (next of kin) to make decisions, whilst the hospitals would normally require a family member to sign as ‘informant’ on the local death certificate. The options will depend on the circumstances of the death and the laws and customs in the Philippines. A funeral director will usually be able to explain the options available, the costs, and help you make the arrangements.

The next of kin may also appoint another person, in the form of a written agreement or Special Power of Attorney (SPA), to act on their behalf and deal with local authorities. If required, the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office and the Embassy can help trace next of kin as soon as possible to ensure they are informed of the death by the appropriate authority or person

Release of information to next of kin

The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office will try to obtain as much information as possible after your relative or friend has died abroad. Some of this may be only available to next of kin.

Access to information concerning a death, other than post-mortem and police reports can be difficult. Consular officers may be able to obtain this themselves, or they may put you in touch directly with the authorities overseas. They may be able to provide you with details of others who can advocate on your behalf such as lawyers, charities, or other organisations.

Registering the death and obtaining a death certificate

A Philippine death certificate is written in English. The certificate shows the deceased’s complete name, nationality, religion, marital status, age, address at time of death, cause(s) of death, informant, relationship to informant and how the body is treated after the death e.g. cremation, local burial, etc. A municipal death certificate can usually be obtained within one week, except where there is only a presumption of death, where it can then take several years. However a certified copy from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) can be obtained usually only after three months.

In cases of a major disaster with significant loss of life, the Philippine authorities may speed up the issue of a death certificate, even though no body was recovered, but this does not happen automatically.

If hospital bills or funeral parlor bills are outstanding, the Philippine authorities are very unlikely to issue a death certificate, until these bills have been paid.

You will need to register the death with the local authorities in the country where the person died. Sometimes a funeral director can do this for you. You will usually need documents about you and the person who has died, which include information such as full name, date of birth and passport number. The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) can provide more information on local death registration.

The local authorities will need to be told if the person suffered from an infectious condition such as hepatitis or HIV so they can take precautions against infection.

You do not need to register the death with the UK authorities. The local death certificate can usually be used in the UK for most purposes, including probate. If it is not in English, you will need to obtain and pay for an official translation.

Local death certificate

A local death certificate is immediately processed through the civil registrar in the town or city where a British national died.

The following information appears on a Philippine death certificate:

1. Name (first, middle, last) 17. Causes of death 2. Sex 18. Death by non-natural causes 3. Religion 19. Attendant 4. Age 20. Certification of death 21. Corpse disposal (burial, cremation, 5. Place of death others) 6. Date of death 22. Burial/Cremation permit 7. Citizenship 23. Autopsy 24. Name and address of cemetery or 8. Residence crematory 9. Civil Status 25. Informant 26. Prepared by (details usually of local 10. Occupation undertaker) 11. – 15. Medical certificate (if deceased was 27. Received at the office of (details of civil 0-7 years old) registrar)

Philippine documents (i.e. birth, death, marriage certificates) are issued in English, thus translations are not necessarily required.

Deaths must be registered with the civil registrar within 30 days of the death. A death certificate may be obtained within a week from the death, except where there is only a presumption of death, which may then take several years. A local municipal health officer will have to validate the death.

In cases of a major disaster with significant loss of life, the Philippine authorities may speed up issue of a death certificate, even though no body was recovered, but this does not happen automatically.

If there are outstanding bills with the hospital or funeral home, the concerned hospital or funeral home may not immediately release the death certificate, until all bills have been paid.

Deaths of British Nationals overseas are not automatically recorded at the General Register Office in the UK, nor is there any obligation for the death to be registered with the British Embassy. However, next of kin may find that there are advantages in doing so – a British form of death certificate is then available, and that a record of death is afterwards held at the General Register Office in the UK.

Consular death registration

You do not have to register the death of a British national that occurs overseas with the UK authorities. You can sometimes apply for a consular death registration. This is not mandatory and cannot be used instead of a death certificate from the country where the person died. It is only available in some countries. If you wish to do this, you can find more information on registering a death and apply online (http://www.gov.uk/register-a-death)

Post mortem examinations (Autopsies)

An autopsy is mandatory for any foreign national whose cause of death cannot be readily determined. An authority to perform an autopsy is normally required from next of kin. Autopsies may, however, be performed without authority if the deceased died of a violent death. Autopsies are carried out in a funeral home. A medico-legal doctor from the Philippine National Police (PNP), National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), provincial, municipal, city health officers and members of the medical staff of accredited hospitals conducts the autopsy. Tissue samples of internal organs are taken and brought to PNP Crime Laboratory in Camp Crame for examination. When the autopsy is completed, the funeral home will embalm the body (after fluids and blood are drained) and then inject formalin. The autopsy results are available 2-3 weeks later, on request. The results are not required for the funeral. A body can normally be released for burial, cremation or repatriation once the autopsy is complete. There may be fees included for this service.

Mortuary Facilities

Mortuary facilities are available in most key cities and small towns throughout the Philippines. Crematoriums are located mostly in Metro Manila, but there are cremation facilities available in Bacolod, Baguio City, Cebu, Davao, and San Fernando (in La Union). The standards applied in Philippine morgues are not always on a par with those in the UK. Although we will do everything we can to ensure appropriate storage, we cannot guarantee the conditions. For instance, not all mortuaries have refrigeration facilities. For this reason, public health concerns compel funeral homes to immediately apply formalin/embalm the remains; or the remains may be put into steel coffins to prevent the leaking of bodily fluids. However, some funeral parlours may wrap the bodies in a special procedure to avoid leakage, and then use ordinary wooden coffins. These coffins would cost much less than steel ones, and also weigh less in cases of repatriation.

Some mortuaries only accept payment in local currency (Philippine pesos). If you pay for a casket prior to a cremation, you should check whether you have paid for it outright or only on loan, in which case it will have to be returned to the mortuary after the cremation. You should also be aware that some crematoriums have a limited range in size of urns.

Mortuaries also have limited size range of caskets/coffins, and often use imported or custom-made ones for foreigners (due to their larger size), which are a lot more expensive.

There are many reputable funeral homes in the Philippines, and they normally offer a range of packages that include the costs for embalming, viewing, flowers, food for visitors, etc. Sometimes an e-vigil (viewing the funeral service live electronically) is also offered at little or no additional expense. You should enquire with the funeral home about the package that suits your requirements.

Be aware that there are also funeral homes that are less scrupulous and charge unreasonable fees. Ask for a breakdown of what you are paying for. Consular staff can speak with the funeral home to enquire about these fees and convey your concerns.

Hospital Facilities

If a person dies in a hospital, their body may be taken to a funeral home/parlor for embalming straight away. This is because some hospitals and funeral homes do not have cold storage for bodies.

Hospital facilities in the Philippines may not be as good as those in the United Kingdom. Next of kin should coordinate with hospital administration about the transfer of remains to a funeral home and should expect to cover costs for transport.

Burial, Cremation and Repatriation

Following the death of a British national in the Philippines, the next of kin, or their formally appointed representative, must decide whether to –

a) Have a local burial or cremation, b) Repatriate the deceased to the UK, or c) Have a local cremation and then repatriate ashes back to the UK

Consular staff in London will pass on to the British Embassy Manila the wishes of the next of kin about the funeral or cremation of the deceased, and also details of who is taking responsibility for the costs incurred. We will do our best to ensure these wishes are carried out. We therefore recommend that you make a decision about the deceased’s funeral and cremation as soon as possible.

Traditionally, a wake is held while awaiting the burial date of the deceased. This is a common Philippine practice where the remains are displayed for viewing of family and friends. Please note there are fees incurred for this, you may want to discuss duration of the wake with the funeral parlour.

The next of kin may also appoint another person, in the form of a written agreement or Special Power of Attorney (SPA), to act on their behalf and deal with local authorities, including making the decision and practical arrangement for burial, cremation or repatriation. The next of kin may wish to furnish the FCDO or British Embassy Manila a copy of the written agreement or SPA through email or fax.

A body can normally be released for burial, cremation or repatriation once the autopsy is complete. Burial in a public plot in the Philippines usually includes a 5-year contract. If the contract is not renewed, then the remains are exhumed and placed in a common grave, and the space is declared vacant for reoccupation.

Repatriation of human remains to UK or elsewhere is expensive. The main expense is airfreight from Manila, plus local handling costs, packaging, permits, etc. The cheapest and most practical option is cremation and repatriation of the ashes. If you decide on cremation, please note that urns available from Philippine undertakers are quite small. A straightforward cremation and repatriation will usually take 2-3 working days to arrange. It may be necessary for family and/or friends to appoint an international undertaker in the UK (see Annex G). Some UK undertakers, e.g.

Rowland Brothers Intl. (https://rowlandbrothersinternational.com/) or Kenyon International (http://www.kenyoninternational.com/), have Philippine counterparts in Manila that deal with repatriation requests.

If the deceased had travel insurance, it is important that next of kin immediately contact the insurance company. If there is no insurance cover, the costs of burial, cremation or repatriation will need to be met by family and/or friends.

Neither the British Embassy Manila, nor the FCO, has any budgets to meet these costs.

Here are the usual requirements for repatriation of remains (the British Embassy Manila has no involvement in this process):

REQUIREMENTS: 1. Certified copy of Death Certificate 2. Passport (copy will suffice) 3. Municipal Transfer Permit 4. Quarantine permit issued by Bureau of Quarantine, 25th and A.C. Delgado Streets, Port Area, Manila (not applicable if remains are cremated)

5. Body must be in a hermetically-sealed container (following international standards) protected by fumigated wooden crate for shipment 6. Fumigation certificate

Here are the usual requirements for repatriation of ashes (the British Embassy has no involvement in this process):

REQUIREMENTS: 1. Certified copy of Death Certificate 2. Passport (copy will suffice) 3. Municipal Transfer Permit 4. Cremated remains must be in an urn (following international standards)

OPTIONAL REQUIREMENTS: 1. Autopsy / Post-mortem reports, if the deceased died of mysterious circumstances or communicable disease 2. Hospital report 3. Police report

Consular Mortuary Certificate, Letter of No Objection or Embassy Clearance

The British Embassy confirms that the Department in the United Kingdom that deals with customs (Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs) does not require either a consular certificate, or the translation of documents from the Philippines into English, for the repatriation of mortal remains/ashes to the United Kingdom.

Therefore the British Embassy no longer issues a consular certificate to accompany mortal remains/ashes to the United Kingdom.

Return of Personal belongings

If the person who died had insurance, check with the insurance company if this covers the return of their personal belongings Personal effects are normally returned to next of kin, or their authorised representative, without any formalities. If personal effects need to be returned to the UK and next of kin are not present in Philippines, the Embassy can assist with making arrangements by commercial means.

Steps to take in the UK

You can find more information on the steps to take in the UK online. This includes information on arranging the funeral, telling the government about the death, UK pensions and benefits, and dealing with the estate of the person who died. There is a step-by-step guide about what to do when someone dies (https://www.gov.uk/when-someone-dies)

British passport cancellation

It is important that the passport of a deceased person is cancelled so that it cannot be used illegally. In the Philippines, you should send or hand in the original passport along with the following documents to the British Embassy Manila.

 D1 Form (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/what-to-do-with-a-passport- when-the-passport-holder-has-died)  Original death certificate  LS01 Form – in case passport was declared lost or stolen (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/report-a-lost-or-stolen-passport-form-ls01)

Immigration card of the Deceased

It is important to notify the Bureau of Immigration when someone has died, so they can update their records and prevent potential fraudulent use of visa or I-card. Please contact the Bureau of Immigration for the complete set of requirements and procedures. You may contact them:  By phone +63 02 8465 2400  By email: [email protected], [email protected], [email protected]  Through their website: http://www.immigration.gov.ph/

Pensions/UK bank accounts of the Deceased

If the deceased had any UK pension and/or bank accounts, it is up to the next of kin to notify the authorities directly. The Embassy/FCO cannot assist with these processes, most of which require the next of kin to make direct contact.

Deaths investigated as murder or manslaughter

If the local police have confirmed that they are investigating the death as a murder or manslaughter a dedicated team within the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office will be available to provide support, including by referring you to specialised organisations. You can find more about what they can do online. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/helping-british-people- abroad-murder-andmanslaughter.

You should note that if the deceased is repatriated to parts of the UK a coroner or procurator fiscal may decide to hold an inquest. See the section on UK Coroners and inquests below.

UK Coroners and inquests

If you repatriate the person who died to England or Wales, a coroner may decide to hold an inquest. The decision on when to hold an inquest is made by Her Majesty’s Coroner. Please note, an inquest will usually only happen in certain situations, for example, when someone has died in suspicious, unnatural, violent circumstances or whilst in detention. If the person who died is cremated and only their ashes are brought home, there will not be an inquest.

If you repatriate the person who died to Scotland, the Procurator Fiscal may decide to call for a Fatal Accidents or Injuries Inquiry.

If you repatriate the person who died to Northern Ireland, there will be no coronial inquest or further inquiry.

Please note, Procurators Fiscal and Coroners do not have jurisdiction in another country, nor do they seek to apportion blame to a named individual.

You can find more information on Coroners and the Procurator Fiscal in the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office guide on Death Abroad (www.gov.uk/government/publications/coping-with-death-abroad).

Legal Aid

If the deceased died under violent circumstances and a trial ensues, the family must work closely with the prosecutor to ensure that the case is not dismissed due to lack of interest, or failure to prosecute. It is often best to engage the services of a local lawyer who will work for your interests. Consular staff can enquire about hearings, but not interfere in the local judicial process.

Compensation

There is a Philippine compensation scheme for the compensation of dependants of murder victims for lost support, but the maximum pay out is £100. Applications should be addressed to the Department of Justice (https://www.doj.gov.ph/).

Police / Judicial Inquiries

The Embassy can liaise with the Philippine National Police (PNP) and local courts, if action relating to a death of British national is required. In the case of a suspicious or violent death, the police will carry out an investigation and, if they are satisfied that a crime has been committed, may take a suspect into custody. The suspect will be brought before the City or Provincial Prosecutor. If the Prosecutor determines that there is a case to answer (also referred to as ‘probable cause’), the suspect will be remanded in jail for trial, but those remanded for all but the most serious offences are eligible for bail. Trials are conducted before a Regional Trial Court judge sitting alone. Trials can be very slow and cumbersome, and in some cases can last several years. Families of the deceased can employ the services of a private prosecutor, who will work alongside and under the supervision of the government prosecutor and can sometimes speed the process up (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/philippines-list-of-lawyers).

Support Organisations in the UK

There are many organisations in the UK that can offer assistance, support and information to those affected by a death abroad. Some of these organisations are listed in our online guide coping with death abroad (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coping-with-death-abroad/death- abroad-uk-organisations-that-can-help).

As independent organisations, the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office cannot be held responsible in any way for their advice and/or any decisions and outcomes that result from this.

International funeral directors in the UK

The funeral directors who can help you to arrange the repatriation of the person who died to the UK. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/international-funeral-directors-in-the-uk/list-of-uk- based-international-funeral-directors--2

Annex: List of funeral directors and crematorium in the Philippines Prepared by British Embassy Manila www.gov.uk

The following list of funeral directors has been prepared by the British Embassy Manila for the convenience of British Nationals who may require this service and assistance in the Philippines. It is provided on the understanding that we (the British Embassy) do not assume or undertake any legal responsibility, to you, or those affected, if you choose to take it into account when instructing a local funeral director.

Further and alternatively, we cannot accept any liability to any person or company for any financial loss or damage arising from the use of this information or from any failure to give information.

Our aim is to provide our customers with as much relevant information to enable them to make better informed decisions but our lists are not recommendations and should not be treated as such.

Important: Burial/cremation/repatriation costs vary depending on the funeral home. Families are advised to discuss all possible burial/cremation/repatriation costs and packages with their chosen funeral home.

List of funeral directors in Manila

RIZAL FUNERAL HOMES Head Office: 438 Cementina Street, Pasay City Tel: 00632.831.0515 / 831.1204 Fax: 00632.8319967 Email: [email protected]

Parañaque Office: 8187 Dr A Santos Avenue, Sucat, Parañaque City Tel: 00632.826.1376 / 826.9682

This company has told us the following things:  they have English speaking staff  they have experience in representing British nationals  staff speak Tagalog and English  they can’t offer repayment plans  areas/regions of the country they provide services for: throughout the Philippines

PASAY FUNERAL SERVICES ROGER CERDENA 143 A Arnaiz Avenue, Pasay City Tel: 00632.844.0442 / 846.4036 Fax: 00632.458.9288 Email: [email protected]

This company has told us the following things:  they have English speaking staff  they are affiliated with the Philippine Department of Health (licenced embalmer)  specialisations are in burial, cremation, repatriation  they have experience in representing British nationals  staff speak Visayan (local dialect)  they can’t offer repayment plans  areas/regions of the country they provide services for: throughout the Philippines

LOYOLA MEMORIAL CHAPELS AND CREMATORIUM (LMCCI)

Makati: EDSA corner Bernardino Street, Guadalupe Viejo, Makati City Tel: 00632.895.1011-18

Quezon City: Damayan Street, Brgy Matandang Balara, Quezon City Tel: 00632. 932.1264 / 442.4947 Fax: 00632.442.8103

Sucat: 8187 Dr. A Santos Avenue, Sucat, Parañaque City Tel: 00632.825.9900 / 826.7014

This company has told us the following things:  they have English speaking staff  they are affiliated with the Philippine Mortuary Association, National Funeral Directors Association (U.S.), International Cemetery Funeral Association  specialisations are in burial, cremation, repatriation  they have experience in representing British nationals  staff speak Tagalog and English  they can’t offer repayment plans  areas/regions of the country they provide services for: Luzon and Metro Manila

ST PETER CHAPELS Quezon Avenue corner West 4th Street, West Triangle, Quezon City Tel: 00632.371.7757 Fax: 00632.372.3389 Website: www.stpeter.com.ph

This company has told us the following things:

 they have English speaking staff  specialisations are in burial, cremation, repatriation  they have experience in representing British nationals  staff speak Tagalog and English  they can’t offer repayment plans  areas/regions of the country they provide services for: Luzon and Metro Manila

List of funeral directors in Pampanga

GATE OF HEAVEN MEMORIAL CHAPELS, CREMATORIUM & COLUMBARIUM LOYOLA PAMPANGA Km. 61 MacArthur Highway, Brgy. San Isidro, San Simon, Pampanga Tel: 0063.45.475.9470 Email: [email protected]

List of funeral directors in Laguna/Rizal

LOYOLA MEMORIAL CHAPELS AND CREMATORIUM (LMCCI)

Taytay: St John the Baptist Columbary and Park, Highway 2000, Taytay, Rizal Tel: 00632.689.7010-11

Laguna: Heaven’s Garden Memorial Park, Brgy Anos, Los Banos Laguna Tel: 0063.49.526.8046

Marikina: A bonifacio Avenue, Tanyong, Marikina City Tel: 00632.941.3611 / 941.3731 Fax: 00632.941.3577

List of funeral directors in Cagayan De Oro City

COSMOPOLITAN FUNERAL HOMES INC Cagayan De Oro, Misamis Oriental Tel: 0063.88.856.2420

This company has told us the following things:  they have English speaking staff  specialisations are in burial, cremation, repatriation  they have experience in representing British nationals  staff speak Tagalog and English  they can’t offer repayment plans  areas/regions of the country they provide services for: Cagayan De Oro City

List of funeral directors in Cebu

COSMOPOLITAN FUNERAL HOMES INC >Nivel Hills, Cebu City 6000 Tel: 0063.32.231.0721 / 231.3192 / 231.2894 Fax: 0063.32.231.4550 >16 General Junquera Street, Cebu City 6000 Tel: 0063.32.256.0491-94 Fax: 0063.32.231.4550 >Mandaue Chapels, Estancia, Mandaue City, Cebu 6014 Tel: 0063.32.344.5240 / 0063.32 420.5662 >Pajo, Lapu Lapu City 6015 Tel: 0063.32.340.8374

List of funeral director in Davao

COSMOPOLITAN FUNERAL HOMES INC J. Camus Extension corner Jose Abad Santos Street, Davao City Tel: 0063.82. 227.1258

List of Crematorium in Metro Manila

Mother Teresa Crematory and Columbarium Address: Rd 13, East Grace Park, Caloocan, Metro Manila, Philippines Tel no.: +63 5172485

Ever Memorial Garden Company Inc. Address: Penthouse, 1186 APC Bldg., Quezon Avenue Quezon City Philippines Tel no.: 371-4041 / 775-1739 / 775-1740 Fax: 371-1781 Email: [email protected]

Manila Memorial Park Dr. A. Santos Ave., Sucat, Paranaque City Tel. Nos. +63 (02) 820-2392, (02) 820-1577 Fax No. (02) 826-3917

Evergreen Chapels and Crematory Address: Evergreen Memorial Garden, 1354 C Raymundo Ave San Miguel, Pasig city Tel no.:+63 7501-0828, 7501-0698, 8642-0437 Email: [email protected], [email protected]

Garden of Life Cemetery Address: Bulalakaw Street, Mandaluyong, 1550 Metro Manila Tel no.: +63 8-361-68-89

List of Crematorium outside Metro Manila

Haven of Angels Memorial Chapel and Crematory Address: 26, Sumulong Highway, 1870 Antipolo, Philippines Tel no.:+63 999 991 4035 Website: www.havenofangels.com

Orion Municipal Cemetery Address: Orion, Bataan, Philippines Tel no.:+63 47 244 4061

Loida Funeral Homes Address: Brgy. San Juan Accfa, Maharlika Highway, 3100 Cabanatuan City Tel no.:+63 44 806 0468

Golden Haven Memorial Park Address: 4th Floor, Ongtiak Business Center, General Maxilom Ave, Cebu City Tel no.:+63 32 255 0394

Haven Crematory Address: Dumaguete Memorial Park San Jose ext, Dumaguete City Mobile no.: +63 916 785 7122, +63 917 447 4614 or +63 916 785 7122. Email: [email protected]

Gegato –Abecia Funeral homes in and crematory Address: coastal Road, Brgy. Balabago Jaro, Iloilo City, 5000 Philippines Tel no.: +63 33 329.2056, 329.1562, 396.1504, 396-4094, 396-4097 Mobile no,: +63 928-6888478, +63 906-3253-750 Email: [email protected] Branches: Mother of Perpetual Help Funeral Homes (Igbaras, Iloilo, Philippines) & Gegato Funeral Services (Guimbal, Iloilo, Philippines)

Phoenix Memorial Chapels and Crematory Address: Brgy. Macabling 4026 Santa Rosa, Laguna Tel no.:+63 918 911 1114 Website: onephoenix.com.ph

La Pieta Memorial Park Address; Diversion Rd., McArthur Highway Pulung-bulo, Angeles City, Pampanga Tel. Nos.: +63 (45) 888-0465; 322-5451 Mobile no.: +63 918 648 6595 Telefax: +63 45 322-4846 Email: [email protected]

Good Shepherd Memorial Park Address: MacArthur Highway, San Fernando, 2000 Pampanga, Philippines Phone: +63 45 961 3474

Zen Gardens chapels Crematorium and Columbary Address: Brgy. Sta. Ana, San Mateo Rizal Tel no.:63 2 85314241 +63 2 82973797

Rubio Funeral Homes and services Address: 495 Purok Rosal, Visayan Village, Tagum City, Tel no.: +63 (084) 216-6763 / 216-4360 / 655-2195 /225-6464 Mobile no.: 0922-83-78246 / 0917-657-8246 +63 922 857 8246

Enriquez Memorial chapels and Crematory Address: 1112 F. Tañedo St. Brgy. San Nicolas, Tarlac City Tel no.:+63 45 982 2775 Updated February 2021

Annex: Consular certificate to accompany Mortal remains/ashes to the United Kingdom

CLASSIFICATION

HM Consul Consular Section

British Embassy Manila 120 Upper McKinley Road McKinley Hill Taguig City 1634 Philippines T +63 (02) 8858 2200

www.gov.uk/fcdo

Mr. Calil G. Dimangadap Chief – Export Division Bureau of Customs NAIA 2/F PAL/PSI Building, International Cargo Terminal, NAIA Complex Pasay City Philippines

29 July 2021

Dear Mr. Dimangadap,

Consular certificate to accompany mortal remains/ashes to the United Kingdom

Greetings from the British Embassy Manila! The British Embassy confirms that the Department in the United Kingdom that deals with customs (Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs) does not require either a consular certificate, or the translation of documents from the Philippines into English, for the repatriation of mortal remains/ashes to the United Kingdom.

Therefore the British Embassy no longer issues a consular certificate to accompany mortal remains/ashes to the United Kingdom. The only documents from the Philippines required by Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs are as follows:

 A death certificate issued by the Philippines’ Civil Registry of the place where the death occurred, or by any other competent government official;

 An official authorisation to remove the remains or a certificate of cremation given by a crematorium authority.

This information contained in this letter is general and should not be taken as a definitive statement of law.

Thank you very much for your invaluable attention and please be assured of continuing support and cooperation on matters of mutual concern.

Yours sincerely,

Neill James HM Consul British Embassy Manila