Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos during his speech at the tree-planting activity on the occasion of President Marcos’ 65th birthday held in Rizal. Screengrab from RTVM video / Facebook
MANILA, Philippines — The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) mourns the death of five rescuers from Bulacan who responded to distress calls during Super Typhoon Karding’s onslaught, saying that they hope people would be inspired by their actions.
in a statement on Monday, Interior Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr. said the DILG is joining the Bulacan provincial government in grieving for the five rescuers who apparently were from Bulacan Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (BPDRRMO).
“The [DILG] joins the Bulacan provincial government and the Bulakeños in grieving for the five brave heroes of the Bulacan Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (BPDRRMO) who perished during a rescue mission at the height of Super Typhoon Karding yesterday,” Abalos said.
“Our snappy salute to Narciso Calayag, Jerson Resurreccion, Marvy Bartolome, George Agustin, and Troy Justin Agustin of the BPDRRMO for responding to the call of duty and rendering an unequivocal testament of genuine public service even at the expense of their own lives,” he added.
Reports earlier said that the five rescuers were deployed at around 4:00 a.m. to rescue residents in San Miguel’s Barangays Tigpalas and Samias after Karding’s intense rains caused flooding in the area.
San Miguel is one of the hardest-hit areas in Bulacan.
The DILG chief said that further information showed that the five rescuers went missing after being hit by a collapsing wall while they were aboard a boat, en route to their rescue mission.
The rescuers’ remains were found at Sitio Banga-Banga, Barangay Camias, San Miguel, Bulacan.
“We extend our deepest condolences and our sincere prayers to the families of the five brave rescuers who, like the thousand others tirelessly working in local government units, including police and fire personnel around the country, have carried us through the storm and exhibited their unparalleled commitment to public service. Ang inyo pong serbisyo ay hindi matatapatan ng kahit anumang halaga lalo na sa panahon ng kalamidad. Salamat po sa inyo!” Abalos said.
“May we all find inspiration in their dedication to duty and be comforted that their lives were not wasted and were lived for the service of their fellow Filipinos,” he added.
Karding wreaked havoc over parts of Southern Luzon and Central Luzon on Sunday up to early Monday morning, making landfall over the Polillo Islands in Quezon province as a super typhoon, packing maximum sustained winds of 195 kilometers per hour.
After it exited the Luzon landmass, people saw scores of damaged infrastructure and flooded roads and agricultural lands.
From being forecasted to hit Cagayan Valley on Sunday night, Karding’s track shifted southwards, placing Bulacan and Pampanga on its crosshairs instead.
–WITH A REPORT FROM TRISHA MANLAYSAY (TRAINEE)
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