By MARTIN A. SADONGDONG
(with reports from Aaron Recuenco and Genalyn Kabiling)
AFTER a day of search, rescue and retrieval operations in areas hit by typhoon “Ompong,” nine more fatalities were recorded by authorities as of yesterday morning, latest available data from the Philippine National Police (PNP) revealed.
As of 9 a.m., police have recorded 74 deaths, 74 wounded, and 55 missing persons, a partial consolidated tally from the PNP-National Operations Center (NOC) in Camp Crame, Quezon City showed.
Six of the newly recorded fatalities were in Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) where a massive retrieval operation is being conducted in Barangay Ucab, Itogon, Benguet in a bid to rescue nearly 100 small-scale miners and their families who were feared buried alive after a landslide.
The three additional deaths were listed in Cagayan Valley (Region 1), the region where typhoon Ompong made its landfall last week.
In the massive landslide in Itogon town, Senior Superintendent Lyndon Mencio, provincial director of the Benguet Provincial Police Office (PPO), said that residents have also helped in the retrieval operations of the police and soldiers.
He said everyone hopes that persons but added they are prepared for the worst.
“Continuation ng paghuhukay natin, ‘yung mga kapulisan, kasundaluhan kasama na po ang mga residente. May mga volunteers na rin para mapabilis ang paghuhukay,” Mencio said.
The residents have to be creative because the team seemed to have limited equipment, having only been equipped with shovels and some power tools.
“Sila [authorities] may pala, yung iba [residents] nagkakamay. ‘Yung mga batong kayang buhatin, inaalis nila,” he added.
However, the Benguet police chief said it was becoming extra difficult for the retrieval team and the locals everytime they pull out a dead person from the rubbles.
“Bangkay po ang parating nakukuha namin,” he said. However, the hope of finding a survivor never ceases, Mencio said, because it fuels the team.
“Gayunpaman, ginagawa namin ang lahat ng makakaya namin para ma-rescue sila o ma-retrieve ‘yung mga katawan ng namatay” he said.
Police are also calling for help to send immediate relief goods to the affected residents in the Cordillera region.
“Basically, kailangan pa rin ng pagkain at tubig. Marami tayong nasa evacuation centers lalo na rito sa Benguet area,” Mencio said.
PNP spokesperson Senior Superintendent Benigno Durana Jr., said there are still 856 families or 2,829 individuals residing in 1,278 evacuation centers in the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) alone.
PNP chief Director General Oscar Albayalde, who personally went to Benguet on Monday to assess the situation, assured that help will be sent to the affected residents in the Cordillera.
Rescuers are holding on even to a faintest ray of hope to get survivors from the tons of mud and rock that buried almost a hundred small-scale miners in a bunkhouse.
As of yesterday afternoon, Itogon Mayor Victor Palangdan said 59 people are still missing, while 15 cadavers were recovered since rescue teams started their mission.
“According to rescuers, they believe that sana may buhay pa, kaya they are inspired to continue to search and rescue operations,” said Palangdan.
President Duterte, who has ordered intensified relief operations for typhoon-hit areas, earlier visited Cagayan, Ilocos Norte and Benguet to check on the impact of the typhoon and provide assistance to the affected communities.
Roque said government agencies are coordinating closely to address the needs of the calamity victims and ensure their safety.
