PNP hopes for more survivors in Itogon, Cebu landslides

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine National Police (PNP) is hoping to recover more survivors in the landslides that occurred in Itogon, Benguet and Naga City, Cebu as it continues to help in search and rescue efforts.

“I really hope we can still recover more survivors. We are not giving up. We should remain positive on this matter,” PNP chief Director General Oscar Albayalde yesterday said.

Albayalde said the national headquarters as well as the command group and squad staff are closely monitoring the situation in the areas of operation, where members of the PNP search and rescue units race against time to find more survivors.

“I have instructed the concerned staff officers to ensure that required provisions and resources for these operations are adequately provided. We remain hopeful that we will be able to rescue more survivors as the search continues,” he added.

As of Sunday, the death toll in separate landslides in Itogon, Benguet rose to 70 while the fatalities in Naga City, Cebu was at 42.

Albayalde ordered the Cagayan Valley police to speed up repair of the regional headquarters destroyed during the onslaught of Ompong.

35 miners return home

Thirty-five miners from Ifugao who had been working in Barangay Ucab in Itogon availed themselves of the Balik-Probinsiya program being offered by the government.

The miners and their families were transported to Ifugao in an Ohayami bus from Benguet yesterday, according to the Ifugao Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (IDRRMC).

The IDRRMC arranged for the miners’ bus ride home with the help of their townmates who pledged to shoulder the fare.

It said 24 bodies recovered from the landslide area in Barangay Ucab were also transported to their respective hometowns in Ifugao.

Meanwhile, the head of the Mountain Province Mobile Force Company in Bontoc said they are ready to implement forced evacuation should Paeng threaten to bring landslides in villages near the slopes.?Supt. Jomarick Felina told The STAR that six persons died in Mountain Province during Typhoon Ompong. – With Raymund Catindig