Rescuers find body of treasure hunter buried in Negros landslide

SIBULAN, Negros Oriental — Rescue teams on Thursday recovered the body of one of the three treasure hunters  buried alive in a tunnel 50 feet deep in Barangay Boloc-Boloc in Sibulan town, Negros Oriental Wednesday.

The still unidentified body was recovered from the water and mud some 50 feet underneath the barangay road, where the tunnel was found.

The buried treasure hunters were identified s Feliciano Encilay Sr., 62; an employee of the Provincial Veterinary Office; Algie Javier, 29; of Sulodpan, Bacong and a former overseas Filipino worker; and Bobby Baldado of Palinpinon, Valencia.

A fourth member, Mauro Alforque, survived and reported the incident to authorities.

The Filipino Chinese Volunteer Fire Brigade brought in floodlights to allow the rescuers to continue the search at night.

“We’re hoping for a miracle at this time as the miners have been trapped underground for about 30 hours already,” June Garcia punong barangay of Boloc-Boloc, said.

The digging for Japanese buried treasure started on Dec. 30 and continued until Wednesday, January 2.

Rescuers from Sibulan, as well as from the Bureau of Fire Protection, the Philippine National Police, the Provincial Risk Reduction and Management Council, the Dumaguete Rescue team, and the Filipino-Chinese Volunteers Fire Brigade have joined the operation. /ee