Manila, Philippines—Miguel Asuela lost his mother, his wife and their five children to Tropical Storm “Ondoy” last month.
Now, the 33-year-old is blaming Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) chair Bayani Fernando, resigned Public Works Secretary Hermogenes Ebdane and weather bureau officials for the tragedy.
Together with 11 typhoon victims, Asuela filed negligence case against the MMDA chair, the Department of Public Works and Highways secretary and officials of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration.
Asuela, whose tragic story was featured in Inquirer’s Oct. 1 issue and the other complainants accused officials of reckless imprudence resulting in multiple loss and damage to property, according to the complaint filed in the Marikina Prosecutor’s Office Thursday.
They also charged DPWH Director Patrick Gatan, Pagasa Executive Director Prisco Nilo, Pagasa Operations Chief Nathaniel Cruz, Pagasa Meteorological Division Chief Susan Espinueva, Pagasa Supervising Engineer Catalino Davis, National Power Corp. President Froilan Tampinco, and MMDA Special Operations Director Ramon Santiago.
The complainants took the officials to task for not issuing a warning to residents that Angat, La Mesa and Ipo dams would release floodwaters, thereby leaving Marikina residents vulnerable to the floods.
The complainants were Asuela, Rubel Antonio, Thelma Avenido, Mario Bagunu, Emmanuel Barrera, Glicerio Batulan, Roberto Cruz, Ofelia Lee, Flor Linco, Alice Posadas, Gerry Salcedo and Jocelyn Valdenor.
Except for Asuela, who lives in Concepcion Uno, and Batulan, who lives in Concepcion Dos, the complainants are residents of Sta. Teresita Village.
Asuela lost his mother Ma. Flor Bonzo, 55, wife Desiree Bonifacio, 29, and their children Ma. Flordeliza, 11, Trixie, 9, and Miguelito, 7, M.J., 1 and Lucky, two weeks old, after floodwaters filled his bungalow in Concepcion I, Barangay Tumana.
“Every night I can’t stop thinking about them. I wish I had died too,” he said in the Inquirer interview.
