By ZALDY COMANDA
CAMP DANGWA, Benguet – A married couple and a bill collector were killed while four others were injured following separate landslide incidents brought by heavy rains in Kibungan and Buguias in Benguet, according to a belated report from Benguet Provincial Police Office.
The Kibungan Municipal Police Station identified the couple as Florentino Ligaten and his wife Cristina, of Tagpaya, Madaymen, Kibungan, Benguet who died after their house was buried following a landslide at 6 a.m. Saturday.
Clifford Ligaten, the couple’s son, was rescued by neighbors and was rushed to Atok District Hospital. He is now in stable condition.
The other fatality in Buguias was identified as Christian Asiong Babsa-ay, a 27-year-old telecom bill collector, and resident of Purok 3 Irisan, Baguio City.
According to reports, Babsa-ay was travelling to Baguio on board his motorcycle when he was hit and thrown off the highway by a huge mudslide that came down from the mountain along Halsema Highway, Km 73, Amgalueygey, Buguias, Benguet at 5 p.m. Saturday.
Babsa-ay died from severe head injuries while being brought to Louis Hora Regional Memorial Hospital in Abatan, Bauko, Mt. Province.
The mudslide also Sanidad Bacquian Alawas, a 57-year-old storekeeper, Erkin Galino Onio, 31, a resident of Payeo, Besao, Mountain Province, and Winnie Joy Lad-Ey Onio, 29, social worker, and resident of Pusel, Amgaleyguey, Bugiuas, Benguet.
The three were rushed to the Northern Benguet District Hospital, Bekes, Buyacaon, Buguias, Benguet.