14 still missing in Natonin landslide

NO STOPPING Volunteers promise to continue digging through mud, rocks and debris to retrieve bodies from the landslide site at Barangay Banawel in Natonin, Mountain Province. REDJIE CAWIS / CONTRIBUTOR

BAGUIO CITY — Dismissing reports that search and retrieval operations had been stopped, rescuers said on Monday that they would continue to look for more bodies at the landslide site in Natonin town, Mountain Province, until Friday.

About 800 volunteers, mostly town residents, policemen, soldiers and miners, had been digging through debris and mud at Barangay Banawel where several structures, including three government buildings, fell on Oct. 30 when a road collapsed as Typhoon “Rosita” (international name: Yutu) struck.

Lawyer Edward Chumawar, head of the Mountain Province Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, said they were still hoping that survivors could be found.

17 dead

Heavy equipment were brought in to help in the search after roads to Natonin were opened last week.

The landslide claimed the lives of 17 people who had sought shelter in the buildings at the Department of Public Works and Highways’ second engineering district compound at Barangay Banawel.

Chumawar said two fatalities were still unidentified and had been taken to Carbonel Funeral Parlor in Alfonso Lista town, Ifugao province.

Among those reported missing were Esther Galong of Besao town, Mountain Province; Randy Sayod of Villaviciosa town, Abra; Jerry Arenas of Baguio City; Noel Alvester of Tabuk City, Kalinga; Rolando Cristobal of San Guillermo town, Isabela; and Inocencio Golingoy of Barangay Banawel.

Eight others missing were residents of Aguinaldo town in Ifugao: Eddie Galahya, Reggie Tayag, Jonathan Ngilin, Obaldo Guihawan, Linson Pallichang, Jovel Bucan, Leobel Orchihon and Jonathan Gano. —Kimberlie Quitasol