Naga City landslide kin of victims recovering from tragedy

CEBU, Philippines —  Part of the eroded mountain in Barangay Tina-an, Naga City is just a view away from the public cemetery at the neighboring village where several dead bodies from the killer landslide were interred.

It has been more than a month since the September 20 incident but Emerito Quisido, 54, could still remember the vivid scenes from the tragic incident that killed many from his neighborhood.

He is one of the chapel association leaders of Sitio Sindulan.  But more than that, he was like a brother and close friend to those who perished.

His wife, who is a purok president, was a native of Sitio Sindulan and he had to move with her when they got married.

His wife lost not only a purok, which was severely affected by the landslide, but a family and relatives close to their hearts.

The tragedy claimed at least 78 lives while 18 individuals were able to survive.

Like him, the bereaved families had their holidays this All Saints' Day and All Souls' Day at the grave of their departed loved ones.

Who would have thought that the children in the community, some just graduated and others just had a job, and still may have a better future ahead, met an untimely death, said Quisido.

Some of the adults, who were also buried to death, were like his "kumpares" that were very good people and responsible provider to the family.

He said the widowed couples and orphaned children are slowly accepting the passing of their members and are gradually recovering from the incident.

Families lit candles and offered some prayers to their lost loved ones.

However, there are still persons who were unrecovered and bodies that are still unidentified.

Ruth Rowena Alensonorin, information officer of the Naga City government, said the final count of the "missing" persons stands at six.

The list includes Gregorio Abanda, 37; Natividad Yapac, 66; Hannah Cris Lador, 17; Dyanna Requinto, 2; Genaro Segovia; and Alfie Yapac.

Apart from the missing persons, Alensonorin said there are also two bodies and 15 body parts that could hardly be identified by living family members.

These unidentified bodies, including the body parts, were subjected to deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) testing.

While waiting for the results, the unidentified bodies were placed inside temporary burial sites.

"We expect DNA results from Manila anytime in November since it will take one to two months for NBI (National Bureau of Investigation) processing," Alensonorin told The FREEMAN.

Once matching is completed and identified correctly, the family can claim and transfer the body to a permanent tomb they want the remains be interred.

But if family identification is found to be a mismatch, the bodies may be taken from the families who earlier claimed them and hand them over to the original members.

Officials, the local authorities and the families concerned earlier agreed that the basis for the final identification of the dead bodies will rely on the DNA result. — GAN (FREEMAN)