TV crew sent to cover ‘Ompong’ ‘missing’ in Cagayan

A fallen electric post blocks a section of the Alcala-Baggao Road in Cagayan after Typhoon ‘Ompong’ made landfall in the province on Saturday, Sept. 15, 2018. The destruction has reportedly hampered communication with officials and residents of many places in Cagayan.

A news reporter of TV5 and two companions are feared missing after being sent to cover the impact of Typhoon “Ompong” in Cagayan, Presidential Adviser on Political Affairs Francis Tolentino said Sunday.

Tolentino, who was designated by President Rodrigo Duterte as his “conduit” for disaster readiness and response, identified the reporter as Romel Lopez.

“Si Romel Lopez ng TV5 nilo-locate ko rin ngayon. Huli siyang namataan sa Sta. Ana, Cagayan, bago tumama si Ompong,” Tolentino told Radyo INQUIRER on Sunday.

(I am also trying to locate Romel Lopez of TV5. He was last seen in Sta. Ana, Cagayan, before Ompong hit.)

Lopez was with his cameraman and assistant cameraman when they were last seen on Friday before Ompong made landfall in Baggao, Cagayan.

Tolentino said it was possible that the group could not contact its news outfit because communication was still down in parts of Cagayan due to the typhoon.

“Palagay ko naman hindi lang nakaka-communicate pa nang ayos,” Tolentino said.

(I believe they just can’t communicate with us properly.)

Ompong made landfall before dawn in Cagayan province on the northeastern tip of Luzon on Saturday. /cbb

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