Bodies of 2 ‘Josie’ victims found in Oriental Mindoro

CITY OF CALAPAN – The bodies of two people reported missing in Mansalay town in Oriental Mindoro province during the height of Tropical Depression “Josie” were retrieved Wednesday morning.

The body of Henry Pastor was found by Jun Galasite in front of his house near the river in Sitio (sub-village) Amihan 2 in Barangay (village) San Aquilino in Roxas town at 6:40 a.m., Rustico Generoso, information officer of Mansalay, said.

Meanwhile, the body of Eddie Gado was found by village councilor June Maso of Barangay San Miguel, where a construction was taking place before the bridge of Barangay Roma at 8:30 a.m.

The two were reported missing Monday. They were seen to have stepped down the river around 6 a.m. in Barangay Bonbon then, witnesses said. They were shouting for help as they were hit by strong water current.

A search-and-rescue operation was immediately launched by the local government.

Only Gado was reported to know how to swim. The victims appeared to have drowned in the river when they were found./lb