SEARCH and retrieval operations for barangay secretary Luvina Kidkid, who was reportedly buried in a landslide in Bedbed, Mankayan, continue with around 300 individuals pitching in.
Mankayan Mayor Materno Luspian said the ongoing search and retrieval operation enters its eighth day Tuesday, August 21.
Senior Superintendent Lyndon Mencio, Benguet Provincial Police Office (BPPO) director, said those participating in the search are from the Regional Mobile Force Battalion K9 unit, BPPO K9 unit, Benguet Provincial Mobile Force Company, Mankayan Bureau of Fire Protection, Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council, other local government units, Lepanto Consolidated Mining Company and villagers.
The landslide, believed to have been caused by the continuous rains, occurred at around 1 p.m. of August 13, a concerned citizen reported.
Initial investigation showed that Kidkid and her co-workers were conducting clean-up operations in the footpath when the landslide occurred.
Kidkid’s workers managed to flee to safety.
Meanwhile, one person was killed when a mini dump truck fell into a 20-meter deep ravine in Shagtan, Kiwet R, Barangay Tabaan Sur in Tuba on August 19.
Caridad Cipriano, 90, was declared dead at the hospital.
Her son, Benjamin Padinay Cipriano, 44, married and resident of Taleb in Tabaan Sur, was driving the truck when this fell.
Initial investigation showed that the truck fell due the unstable road condition.
In Tuba, Benguet, the body of Mencio Abol Amiten was retrieved in Badiwan Creek in Badiwan, Poblacion, Tuba at 4:57 p.m. on August 15, four days after he was swept away by the strong current at a canal on Marcos Highway, Baguio City on August 11.
Amiten, 57, married and resident of Pula, Poblacion in Tuba, was found lifeless by the composite teams of Tuba Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council, PNP Tuba, Tuba BFP, Barangay Poblacion DDRMC and relatives of the victim.
Also on August 15, the Itogon Municipal Police Station looked into the alleged accidental death of 25 years old Aries Piwet, single and native of Tabuk, Kalinga temporarily residing at Camp 5 Balatoc, Virac in Itogon.
On August 14, a truck also fell into a ravine in Km.58 Cattubo, Atok Benguet.
Rescuers retrieved the body of 51–year-old Rodrigo Navalta Maon, farmer, from Buyacaoan, Buguias, who died on the spot while his passenger was brought to Northern Benguet District Hospital in Buguias.
Police also recovered the remains of 19–year–old Krystel Marlin at the Agaynec River in Tuba, Poblacion.