To finally put an end to reports, the Philippine Embassy in Iran on Wednesday categorically stated that there are no unclaimed remains of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in Kish Island in Iran.

This was confirmed as the embassy dispatched a consular team to the island to check on allegations that there are unclaimed Filipino remains in Kish Island, as well as to inquire on the conditions of Filipinos there.

"According to Kish Island Hospital officials, there are no Filipino remains in the hospital's morgue, contrary to earlier reports. The only body brought to the hospital mortuary in July was that of Filipino Mark Lloyd Carmen. Bodies in the mortuary are shown only to their relatives, and they are not exposed for everyone to see," Philippine Charge d'Affaires Mariano Dumia said.

Carmen died when a Sudani national stabbed him in the chest with a knife in a fist fight more than a month ago. His remains were brought back to Manila two weeks ago.

Dumia said he also met with Kish Island consular and immigration officials, who said that there are no stranded Filipinos in the island.

"Kish Island immigration officials said that from January to August of this year, no Filipino was charged for overstaying or detained for any violation of immigration law," he explained.

According to Dumia, Filipinos in Kish Island, who are temporarily there, are given enough time to secure their work visas for the United Arab Emirates (UAE). They are allowed by consular and immigration authorities to extend their stay visas up to three months, as they eventually return to the UAE once they have secured their entry and work visas.

Kish Island immigration records showed that 1,012 Filipinos entered the island in June and another 1,058 arrived in July. As the Filipinos stay for an average of two months and then depart for the UAE after that, the average number of Filipinos at a given time is about 2,000.