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Monday, November 07, 2005
Search, rescue operations in Dawalwal halted
By Ben O. Tesiorna
DAVAO CITY -- The search and rescue operation inside the Sunshine tunnel in Mt. Diwalwal was temporarily halted Sunday to give way to the clearing operation of the debris that blocked the tunnel.
Office of Civil Defense 11 Director Carmelito Lupo said rescuers have penetrated 900 meters into the tunnel where they recovered two more bodies of trapped miners on Saturday.
The recovered bodies were that of Junel Belarmino and Roberto Pacaldo. Their bodies were retrieved at around 10:30 a.m.
Lupo said the rescuers could not, however, go beyond the depth of 900 meters since huge debris of soil and rocks are blocking the tunnel.
"Kaya (We) temporarily stopped muna ang (the) search and retrieval operations to give way to the clearing operation," Lupo said.
Asked how long the clearing operation would take and how soon the search and retrieval can resume, Lupo said it all depends on the rescue team coming from mining firms Lepanto and Philex of Benguet.
Lupo said the rescue team is looking at other ways of penetrating the depth of the tunnel where about 13 miners are still believed trapped.
As of Sunday, there are 32 reported casualties in the cave-in last October 26, 19 of whom had already been recovered while 13 others remained trapped inside.
Among those believed to be still inside the tunnel are Jerry Calamba, Al Placio, Raul Hugo, Rey Hugo, Nemesio delos Santos, Rodolfo Cabrera, and Marcelino Davis.
There are unconfirmed reports though that said there are more victims than the 32 official casualties reported.
Mt. Diwata barangay captain Franco Tito estimated the casualties to reach more than 50.
Compostela Valley Representative Manuel Zamora had said the JB Management and Mining Corporation (JBMMC) and the funeral parlors were conniving with each other in an effort to keep the real number of casualties hidden from the public.
JBMMC vice president Reynaldo Española denied the accusations, saying it would be impossible for them to hide the real number of casualties since government was now taking the lead in the retrieval and investigation.
"Kung totoo pang more than 50 ang casualties namin ay saan na yung mga pamilya ng mga biktima? Kung ganun kadami ang namatay sana maraming tao sa harap ng gate namin at umiiyak at nag-aantay ng balita. Pero wala naman eh," Española said. (If it's true that there are more than 50 casualties, where are the families of the victims? Why are their relatives not at the company's gate, crying, and waiting for news for their loved ones?) (Sun.Star Davao/Sunnex)
(November 7, 2005 issue)
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