Rescue operations continue in Itogon, even as chances of finding survivors are slim
Police personnel involved in rescue operations in Itogon, Benguet have been directed to continue their efforts even as chances of finding survivors are slim, the spokesperson of the Philippine National Police (PNP) said on Tuesday.
Spokesperson Sr. Supt. Benigno Durana said that the Special Action Force (SAF) troopers deployed by PNP Chief Director General Oscar Albayalde brought high-tech equipment to the rescue site.
The rescue operations of the 24-man team continues. There were two teams sent by Chief PNP from the Special Action Force, together with their high-tech equipment and life detection equipment, so we can account for the victims,” Durana told reporters in Tagalog in Camp Crame.
“Sabi nga ni (According to the ) Chief PNP, we will not stop, we will not rest in helping the local government units to account for each Filipino who is missing right now,” he added.
At least 50 persons who took shelter in a makeshift chapel located in a hillside in Itogon are feared dead, after rains and winds brought by Typhoon “Ompong” on Saturday softened the land.
The chapel used to be a bunkhouse of miners from small-scale mining sites in the vicinity.
Itogon Mayor Victorio Palangdan earlier said there was “99 percent (chance) that they really are all dead.” He also confirmed that 11 bodies have been recovered by the responders.
READ: Hope fades for dozens trapped in Itogon landslides
Despite the odds, Durana said they are still hoping that miracles will happen and lead them to survivors.
“We’re still hoping against hope, na sana makapag-recover pa tayo ng buhay, di po natin alam, miracles can still happen nowadays. ‘Yon ang inaasahan ng ating kapulisan, na sana maka-recover pa tayo ng buhay,” Durana noted.
(We are still hoping against hope that we can recover more lives. We never know, miracles might happen nowadays. We are hoping for that.)
“Pero so far as the day pass by, medyo ang chances ay lumalabo (As the days pass by, the chances are getting slim),” he admitted.
Ompong made landfall on Saturday morning in Baggao, Cagayan, ripping through the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) and Regions 1 and 2.
The typhoon exited the Philippine area of responsibility on Saturday night, leaving a trail of destruction and death. At least 64 individuals have been declared dead, according to the local police. /ee
READ: 64 dead, 45 missing in Luzon landslides
