Case mulled vs funeral home over cadaver ‘switching’

By Felipe V. Celino 

ROXAS CITY, Capiz – A family is looking into the possibility of suing a funeral home for allegedly switching the remains of a loved one with another.

Celia Banaco of Brgy. Casanayan, Pilar, Capiz told the media here that they will be consulting a lawyer for possible legal actions against St. Peter Funeral Homes based in Balasan, Iloilo.

According to Banaco, instead of crying over the death of their older brother Ramon Tenorio Sr., they ended up laughing after learning that the remains that they mourned over for three days and three nights was that of a stranger.

Based on their investigation, Banaco said the remains they brought home for the wake was from Lemery, Iloilo who was a namesake of their departed brother.

The family said the suit that the body wore was like that of their brother.

Some individuals later noticed that the cadaver’s face looked different from Ramon Tenorio, but the funeral home replied that it might be the effect of the chemicals they injected into the cadaver.

Still the family investigated and discovered the body switch. When the funeral home brought the real Ramon Tenorio, Banaco said they never cried because they “ran out” of tears after mourning for the wrong body.

The burial was scheduled last Saturday but it was canceled and moved to September 23 after the town’s parish priest gave the family another three days and three nights to mourn.

Daily Guardian is still trying to get the side of the funeral home.