BAGUIO CITY August 22 -Nine people, including a 10-year old boy, died while eight others were reported missing in the different parts of the Cordillera after Tropical Cyclone ‘Ineng’ brought in heavy rains and strong winds battering most parts of the region over the past two days.
At around 8 am Saturday, joint police operatives and responding rescuers recovered the bodies of live in partners Nole Galidan Lubante, Jr., 21 and Nova Mae Diaz Tuazon, 17, 6 months pregnant and a native of Asin, Nangalisan, Tuba, Benguet inside their house at sitio Cotcot, Bulalacao, Mankayan, Benguet after the same was buried by a landslide that was reportedly triggered by the continuous rains brought by Tropical Cyclone ‘Ineng’ over the past several days.
In sitio Geweng, Cabiten, Mankayan, Benguet, the remains of Glen Poloc Baldasan, 27, a pocket miner, was also dug up from the debirs after he was buried by a landslide late Friday afternoon while he was on his way home while the body of Michael Martin Lagasan, 59, a farmer who hails from Comillas North, Cervantes, Ilocos Sur was retrieved by rescuers inside his vehicle after a landslide buried three parked vehicles at sitio Palatong, Tabeo, Mankayan, early Saturday morning.
In sitio Bayating, Topdac, Atok, Benguet, a 1-year old boy identified as Jury Catubing died while both his parents and his 3-year old brother were wounded after their house was hit by a landslide at around 12 am Saturday. The injured individuals were named as Junatio Catubing, Regina Santos and their 3-year old child who were immediately rushed to the Benguet General Hospital for medical treatment but Juanito was later transferred to the Baguio General Hospital and Medical Center due to multiple head injuries.
In Bakun, Benguet, two siblings died after a huge landslide buried their tent that was built below a mountain slope at sitio Takayan, barangam Gambang at around 5 am.
Andrew Alex Uy, regional director of the Cordillera office of the Office of Civil Defense (OCD-CAR), identified the fatalities as Erwin Celo, 37, married and his younger brother Markim Celo, 21, , both residents of Itogon, Benguet.
The said individuals are reportedly construction workers of a road project in the area when the unfortunate incident occurred at the height of the heavy rains and strong winds brought by Tropical Cyclone ‘Ineng.’
In sitio Tala, Namatek, Sabangan, Mountain Province, a 10-year old boy died while his 8-year old brother and her mother were injured when mud buried their house in the area at around 4 am.
The victim was named as Ycker Mayon, 10, a resident of the aforesaid place who sustained multiple head and body injuries. His younger brother and mother also sustained similar injuries and were rushed to the nearest hospital for medical treatment.
In barangay Camalog, Pinukpuk, Kalinga, three persons are now the subject of a search and rescue operation by combined police operatives and volunteer rescuers after they were reportedly trapped along the Chico river at around 9 am Friday.
The missing individuals were named as Ponciano Adriano, 61, Diego Balutoc, 43 and Jaymel Dawagan, 12, all residents of the same place as rescue operations are still underway.
In sitio Tolyang, Calnan, Tabuk City, Kalinga, five persons are also being subjected to search and rescue operations after they were reportedly trapped in a quarry site.
Two of the trapped individuals were described to be heavy equipment operators whole the three were said to be minors.
