Two kids perish in Bohol landslide

A FOUR-YEAR-OLD boy and his two-year-old sister were killed while their parents and two workers were injured in a landslide that hit a bunkhouse in sitio Abatan, barangay Lincod, Maribojoc town in Bohol province.

Maribojoc police identified the fatalities as John Rey Potat and his younger sister Princess Joy, of barangay Loreto in the nearby town of Cortes.

The two children were declared dead on arrival at the Celestino Gallares Memorial Hospital in Tagbilaran City.

Their parents, 24-year-old Bonifacio Potat and 20-year-old wife Marites were already in good condition at the same hospital, said PO3 Magdaleno Barnido.

Barnido said the area was an abandoned quarry site located along the barangay road that is now used for a hollow block-making business owned by Numeriano Almeñe.

Bonifacio served as one of Almeñe’s workers along with Ronel Pacaña from Loreto Cortes and Jimmy Tirol from Lincod, Maribojoc.

The workers built a bunkhouse below the quarried slope, Barnido said.

Bonifacio’s wife, Marites arrived last Thursday with their two children.

They were supposed to go home and attend church yesterday morning.

But the landslide that struck at 3 a.m permanently changed their plans.

Barnido said Pacaña and Tirol were swept outside the bunkhouse while the couple were buried with limestone.

Despite being hurt, Pacaña and Tirol helped dig out the couple and were helped by police.

The two children were found unconscious but they were declared dead at the hospital.

Barnido said the rains caused the landslide in the quarry site which was deemed unsafe.

The Bohol provincial government extended assistance to the victims, Barnido said. Correspondent Jhunnex Napallacan