MMDA recovers torso of trashslide victim

MANILA, Philippines - A team deployed by the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) on Thursday recovered the lower torso of a landfill worker who was buried in a trash slide at a private sanitary landfill in Rodriguez, Rizal on Friday afternoon.

 

The MMDA team also recovered the intact body of another buried landfill worker as the search continues for one more still missing worker.

 

According to a report sent by the Rizal Police, the MMDA team recovered the lower torso of Eddie Malano, 44, of Pintong Bocaue, San Mateo Rizal at about 3:30 am yesterday.

 

Police said Malano was identified by his wife through a rubber anklet and a motorcycle key found in his pants pocket. The recovery team is still looking for Malano’s upper half which they say could not be far from where his lower torso was discovered.

 

At about 9:15 a.m., the body of Rovidico Olog was recovered. His identity was confirmed by relatives, police said.

 

As of Thursday afternoon, recovery operations have not stopped as the search for the remaining buried worker Pablito Esto continues.

 

On Wednesday, the MMDA team recovered the body of buried backhoe operator Gary Balahibo who was found still inside the buried backhoe.

 

MMDA chairman Francis Tolentino said the MMDA team initially recovered the buried backhoe before discovering Balahibo’s body inside.

 

The four landfill workers were buried after the trash slide happened at about 6 pm at the sanitary landfill located at Sitio Lucutan Maliit, Barangay San Isidro.