By Joey Aguilar/Staff Reporter


The Philippine embassy is working with Qatari authorities to find out the cause of the fire in a building at Doha’s Al Muntazah area, that resulted in the death of a Filipina, ambassador Wilfredo Santos told Gulf Times.
“We are now taking the necessary steps to expedite the repatriation of 47-year-old Chona Rian Pingul’s  remains to the Philippines,” he said.
Pingul’s husband Rafael Paule (45), and daughter Micaela, are still in critical condition at the Hamad General Hospital, the envoy explained.
The hospital is also taking care of their son, Rafael Lorenzo (15).
“The eldest daughter, Maria Angela Veronica Pingul, who arrived from the Philippines, is in touch with us and we are prepared to assist the family,” Santos added.
“A notice of death will be issued only upon completion of the investigation on the incident to determine the actual cause of death.”
The embassy and the Filipino community in Doha offered condolences to the family of the victim, who died in a fire that broke out in their Al Muntazah home early on Sunday.
Pingul, an employee of Qatar Shell for 16 years, was active in many Filipino community activities, especially in the church.
Her husband is an operating theatre technician at Hamad Medical Corporation since 1999. Labor attache Leopoldo De Jesus told Gulf Times that the family or close relatives of the victim are entitled to some benefits from the Philippine Overseas Workers Welfare Administration, Social Security System and Home Development Mutual Fund.
A resident of the affected apartment complex said a number of families have started relocating to another accommodation in the same area.
The residents are employees of HMC.