A Filipino doctor was killed while evacuating to safer grounds when a town and airport in Mbandaka, Congo (DR Congo) was attacked by rebels, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said Wednesday. The DFA, citing a report from the Philippine embassy in Nairobi, said Dr. Jay Basilio-Bool, was working with the United Nations contractor PAE Group and died due to cardiac arrest during the evacuation. Charges d'Affaires Donna Celeste Feliciano-Gatmaytan reported to the DFA that Bool's death was relayed by a representative of the doctor's employer, Willem Ackerman. “The PAE Group is a contractor providing airport support services to the United Nations Organization Mission in DR Congo (MONUC). His family has been informed of the incident,” the DFA said. On the other hand, the DFA said four other Filipinos from the same company were found to e safe. They are Fire Officer Juanito Sape, Firefighter/Equipment Operators Noel Lee and Laborce Hilario and EMT Lead Rolando Tullao. The PAE is making arrangements for the shipment of Bool's remains. A representative from the company has also been designated to accompany his remains back to the Philippines, the DFA said. Recent news reports said the government and UN forces have retaken the airport, which is now opened to traffic. Other casualties included three members of the MONUC, a peacekeeper from Ghana, a South African pilot and a civilian employee. Four Congolese soldiers and two police officers were also killed in the fighting, the reports said.
