OCD clarifies no fatalities from Pepito; 1 death due to accident

MANILA, Philippines — The Office of the Civil Defense (OCD) clarified on Monday that no fatalities had been recorded due to Severe Tropical Storm Pepito (international name: Man-yi).

This came after President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said earlier that one person from Camarines Sur died because of the calamity.

READ: Marcos laments Pepito took one life: ‘1 casualty is a casualty too many’

In a press briefing, OCD Assistant Secretary for Operations Cesar Idio stated that the 72-year-old man from the province — the person President Marcos referred to — died in a vehicular accident caused by hanging internet cables along Bagabas Road.

“Sa ngayon, wala pong na-receive ang operations center ng NDRRMC (National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council) na casualty-related sa typhoon, only injured. But ‘yung na-report na casualty ay hindi po typhoon-related,” said Idio.

(As of now, the operations center of the NDRRMC has not received any reports of casualties related to the typhoon, only injuries. But the reported casualty is not typhoon-related.)

In its 8 a.m. report, the NDRRMC said at least 685,071 individuals sought temporary shelter in evacuation areas due to rains and flooding caused by Pepito and tropical cyclones Nika and Ofel.

Meanwhile, the state weather bureau announced that Pepito left the Philippine area of responsibility around noon on November 18 and is no longer directly affecting the country.