Last miner found alive
Family mulls legal options
By Elmer Kristian Dauigoy
Northern Luzon Bureau
First Posted 14:31:00 10/04/2008
Filed Under: Mining and quarrying, Accidents (general)
BAGUIO CITY, Philippines -- When the Mines and Geosciences Bureau on Friday suspended the search for Joseph Anayasan, the last man trapped in an abandoned mining tunnel in Itogon, Benguet, about 20 local miners tapped by his family to continue the search did not give up hope of finding him alive.
Their efforts bore fruit as Anayasan was brought out of the tunnel at about 3 p.m. Friday, said Fred Jacinto, a former president of a miners' association in Itogon.
Jacinto said Anayasan's family took him to an undisclosed location in Baguio City, as they talked about options on how they would turn over Anayasan, who has pending criminal cases in Baguio City and Benguet, to the police.
Neoman Dela Cruz, Cordillera regional mines bureau director, said they allowed Anayasan's family to continue the search after rescue workers, composed of local miners, Philippine Navy divers, and volunteer rescue units, pulled out of the area.
"We forged an agreement with the family yesterday (Friday, Oct. 3). We gave them four days to search for him. But in the memorandum of agreement, we gave them conditions. They should always observe safety regulations before entering the tunnel and we limited the search team to 20 members in rotating shifts," Dela Cruz said.
He said a representative of the family informed the bureau on Friday afternoon that Anayasan had been found.
Jacinto and Dela Cruz could not provide details on the condition of Anayasan when he was brought out of the tunnel.
Anayasan's rescue brought to 10 the number of miners taken out alive of the tunnel. Six others died inside the tunnel.
The 16 small-scale miners entered the tunnel on September 22 as Typhoon "Nina" crossed the Cordillera. They were working inside the tunnel when floodwaters, induced by strong rains accompanying "Nina," swamped their working areas.
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