Bodies of drowning victim found

TAGUM CITY, Davao del Norte—The bodies of two persons who disappeared in the floods that swamped parts of Davao del Norte in the wake of Tropical Depression ‘Zoraida’ in Davao del Norte have been found, an official said Friday.

The body of Dowen Anito, 20, was fished out of the New Bantayan River in Asuncion town around 6 a.m. on Friday, according to Eric Rosillo, provincial disaster operation center chief.

Anito was swept away while attempting to cross the raging river in the village of Sampao in Kapalong at the height of the floods in Davao del Norte las Tuesday. His body was found more than 10 kilometers from where he was swept away.

Another victim, Ben Banhao of Dujali town, was also swept away as he tried to retrieve lumber drifting on the Tanglaw River in Dujali.

Rosillo said the 22-year-old Banhao’s body was found around 10:15 a.m. in in the village of Mactan and was by the victim’s wife.

Governor Rodolfo del Rosario said the two drownings could have been prevented if people had heeded government warnings.

“The deaths happened not because we lacked preparation but some people were just too stubborn and refused to follow instructions,” the governor said at a media forum here on Wednesday.

In spite of the “minimal casualties,” the governor acknowledged Davao del Norte’s preparation for the storm was not enough.

“We still have so much to do in terms of disaster preparation and mitigation,” Del Rosario said, even as he reiterated the importance of people following government warnings about impending calamities.

The authorities said some 960 families were either displaced or affected due to massive flooding in the province, including more than 600 alone in Tagum City.