Farmer’s body found in swamp after mudslides in Cagayan

Local rescue workers retrieve the remains of Richard Perez after incidents of mudslide in Rapuli village, Santa Ana town, Cagayan province. Photos courtesy of the PNP-Santa Ana, Cagayan

TUGUEGARAO CITY—The bloated remains of a 23-year-old farmer was retrieved at 9 a.m. on Thursday (Nov. 9) following the mudslides that buried homes at Santa Ana town in Cagayan province on Nov. 6, police said.

The body of Richard Perez, 23, was fished out of a swamp near the landslide area in Sitio Catiuyan, Rapuli village, said SPO4 Roberto Alariao of the Santa Ana police.

Another mudslide fatality, Albert Ravelo, 47, was recovered on Tuesday (Nov. 7) at Sitio Dalupang in San Vicente village.

The erosions were triggered by monsoon rains that affected the province for five days, according to the Cagayan provincial disaster risk reduction and management council.

The rains affected 9,803 families (or 45,578 people) residing in 89 villages in 15 Cagayan towns, said Rogelio Sending Jr., Cagayan provincial information officer.

The mudslides destroyed 8 houses and partially damaged 32 others in Santa Ana, as well as a house in Lasam town, he said. /jpv