Gov’t: Death toll only 2; Red Cross: No it’s 21

A resident walks during strong rain as Typhoon Hagupit hits San Juan town, Batangas province, eastern Philippines on Monday, Dec. 8, 2014. AP

MANILA, Philippines – At least 21 have been killed from Typhoon Ruby (international name Hagupit) in Samar based on the Philippine Red Cross’ count, but the official death toll of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council remained at two as of Monday evening.

“It has to be verified, confirmed and validated so ang problema dito sa field makakatanggap na tayo ng report may namatay sa lugar na yan ang gagawin ay ibabalik natin at ive-verify kung totoo,” explained NDRRMC spokesperson Mina Marasigan.

“Why? Kasi in the last few days na maraming reports na nakarating sa amin na apparently hindi pala totoo pag-check sa ground hindi pala totoo. So yun lang ang sinisiguro namin pag sinabing dead, yun Department of Health sinabing dead na,” she said.

The two deaths confirmed by the NDRRMC were two people who died from hypothermia in Iloilo last December 6.

Gwendolyn Pang of Philippine Red Cross said most of those 21 people died from drowning when waters rose in Borongan in Eastern Samar, where Ruby made its first landfall.

“Ang hinihintay namin documented ito. As soon as ma-receive ang report from the DOH then we will have an update,” Marasigan said.

Meanwhile, Red Cross chief Richard Gordon defended their death count, saying the number was reported by their field workers.

In a radio interview, Gordon said this is one of the many ways the Red Cross can help the government to unburden its heavy task during disasters.

“We are not competing with them; we are helping them.” Gordon said in the interview.