Landslide area in Camarines, Sur
On December 29, the family of Melvin Gonzales was having dinner when they heard a roaring sound amid the heavy downpour.
The sound marked the rock slide at the upper part of their house.
“Iyong paglingon ko, ang bahay namin bigla na lang pumutok. Tinulak na kami ng lupa,” Melvin recalled.
Melvin, his wife and 5 children managed to run out of danger.
However, his three children where buried alive in the landslide.
Meanwhile, all 8 children of Jose Ferno also died in the incident.
Authorities are still in search of his wife and youngest child.
“Hindi ko alam na ang ulan pala dito malakas sa Legazpi. Hindi naman masyado dito pala yung ulan bumagsak kaya namanatag ako doon,” said Ferno.
Based on the record of the local government ng Sagñay, Camarines Sur, the number of fatalities in the landslide in Brgy. Patitinan has reached 30.
Sagñay officials said they did not lack on reminding the residents in landslide-prone areas to evacuate.
However, Mayor Evelyn Fuentebella admitted that they did not enforce a mandatory evacuation.
“Just to inform them na it;s delikado kasi actually hindi namin ini-expect ito. Sino ba naman na gusto itong mangyari ‘di ba? Hindi kami nagmandatory. ‘Yun lang siguro pero they we’re warned,” said the local chief executive.
On Wednesday morning (January 2), rescue teams of Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) have arrived to help in the search of 16 missing individuals in Sitio Igot and Sitio Garang of Brgy. Patitinan.
“Meron daw doon kung saan nag-evacuate ang mga victims. Iyong chapel yata so ang balita mula ngayon hindi pa nila napapasok iyon. So iyon ang pagpunta namin ang isu-survey namin. Iyon ang magiging concentration namin,” said Philippine Army DRU officer LTC Joel Sobrera.
“Sana makuha natin pero gagawin naman namin lahat ng magagawa namin para mahanap natin lahat,” said MMDA Public Safety Officer Allan Nicart Longcop.
Vice President Leni Robredo also arrived in Brgy. Patitinan to personally visit the situation of the residents in the area.
The vice president provided aid to the landslide-affected residents.
Robredo has recommended to the local government of Sagñay the forced relocation of the residents in landslide-prone areas.
“Identify alin ba mga lugar yung hindi na talaga pwedeng patirhan at talagang pwersahin yung mga taong huwag nang bumalik,” said the vice president.
“Meron na akong resettlement area sa Brgy. Del Carmen. Inooffer ko sa kanila pero alam naman ang mga tao they don’t want change parang ito ano lang ito yung nangyari lang yung ganun pero hindi nila iniexpect na mangyayari ulit but we are trying our best na umalis sila dito,” said Mayor Fuentebella.
The mass burial of the victims of the landslide is set on Thursday (January 3). – Allan Manansala / UNTV News and Rescue
Tags: Camarines Sur, fatalities, Sagñay
Duterte honors wounded, slain cops in CamSur ambush
President Rodrigo Roa Duterte commiserates with the relatives of one of the slain police officers during his visit at the Camarines Sur Provincial Police Office in Naga City on October 23, 2018. SIMEON CELI JR./PRESIDENTIAL PHOT
President Duterte went to Camarines Sur on Tuesday (October 23) where he visited the three policemen who were wounded in the ambush against the convoy of Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Director General Nela Charade Puno in Brgy. Napolidad, Lupi, Camarines Sur last October 18.
The President bestowed the Order of Lapu-Lapu with rank of Kampilan to the three injured cops.
The Kampilan is awarded to government personnel and private individuals who were seriously wounded while carrying out activities related to the President’s advocacy.
Duterte also personally sent condolences to the families of the three other cops who died in the incident, namely, SPO1 Percival Rafael Jr. PO3 Carlito Navaroza Jr. and PO1 Ralph Jason Vida.
He visited the wake of PO1 Vida in Camarines Sur Provincial Police Office and awarded him the Order of Lapu-Lapu with the rank of Kalasag.
Kalasag is given to officials, government personnel and private individuals who lost their lives as a direct result of their participation in tasks pursuant to a campaign or advocacy of the President.
Duterte was joined by FDA Director General Puno whom the wounded police personnel were escorting the day of the incident.
“Maraming maraming salamat sa lahat ng mga nagligtas ng buhay ng Team FDA. Sa mga pulis na nasaktan at mga pulis na namatay, nakakagalit. Si Presidente po ay siguradong hindi papayagan na ganito lang ang mangyari,” said Puno.
President Duterte did not provide any statement to the media, however, Philippine Army 9TH Infantry Battalion Division commanding general MGen. Jesus Manangquil said that Duterte has instructed the Philippine Army and Philippine National Police to intensify the localized peace talks with the New People’s Army, who are responsible for the ambush.
“Nanawagan pa rin ulit kami sa mga nandirito na gumagala sa bundok na mag-usap, mapag-usapan through localized dialogue o peace initiative. Lalong lalo na napakaganda ng iminumungkahi ng ating gobyerno with the package na may pabahay na worth 450,000 na pabahay sa mga mag-susurender na NPA,” said the commanding general. — Yssa Jalmasco (with reports from Allan Manansala)
Tags: ambush, Camarines Sur, FDA
PNP Chief wants upgrade of cops’ intel skills after CamSur ambush
Crime scene of the ambush against police personnel in Lupi, Camarines Sur on October 18, 2018
CAMARINES SUR, Philippines – Following the gruesome ambush against police personnel in Lupi, Camarines Sur on Thursday (October 18), Philippine National Police (PNP) Director General Oscar Albayalde wants a level up of skills in intelligence gathering among policemen.
Albayalde admitted to have noticed some loopholes in police operation procedure during the ambush specifically in critical areas such as that in Lupi.
“Marami tayong nakitang kailangan i-improve…Unang-una iyong sa information gathering, intelligence gathering natin. Pangalawa, iyong will to fight ng ating mga kapulisan kailangan natin iyong skills, iyong instinct ng ating mga pulis. So marami pa po tayong nakikita rito. Iyong manner of investigation…These incidents, hindi na po natin [hahayaan na] mangyari ang similar incident na ganito,” Albayalde said,
Albayalde was in Canaman, Camarines Sur on Friday (October 19) to award the posthumous promotion to three police escorts killed in the attack.
They were SPO1 Percival Rafael, PO3 Carlito Navarroza and PO1 Ralph Jason Vida.
“The whole Philippine National Police, kami po’y nakikiramay sa mga pamilya ng mga biktima and we want to assure the family that we will give justice to the victims,” Albayalde assured the slain cops’ kin.
After the ceremony, the PNP Chief proceeded to a hospital in Naga City where the rest of the wounded cops are confined.
The relatives of those killed in action and the wounded policemen also received cash assistance from the PNP.
Meanwhile, the remains of the cops killed in action have already been delivered to their respective hometowns. – Marje Pelayo (with reports from Allan Manansala)
Tags: Camarines Sur, Director General Oscar Albayalde, Lupi
3 cops killed, 3 others wounded in Camarines Sur ambush
Bodies of cops killed in action
Three police escorts of Food and Drugs Administration Director General Nela Charade Puno were killed while three others were wounded in an ambush along the national highway of Brgy. Napolidan, Lupi, Camarines Sur at around 9:10 AM, Thursday (October 18).
Based on initial report, the three Philippine National Police (PNP) security personnel were on board a PNP marked vehicle on their way to Daet, Camarines Norte when more or less 20 unidentified armed men believed to be members of the New People’s Army, assaulted the group which resulted in the killing and wounding of the police victims.
Route security personnel from 1st Camarines Sur PPSC were able to immediately respond to the area and retaliate, thereby suppressing the enemy and preventing further casualties.
The fatalities were identified as:
SPO1 Percival Rafael
PO3 Carlito Navarroza
PO1 Ralph Jason Vida
The Wounded personnel were immediately brought to Bicol Medical Center (BMC), Naga City. They were identified as:
PO1 Jonathan Perillo
PO1 Ruby Buena
PO1 Rodolfo Gonzaga
The Bicol PNP has coordinated with the military for a joint pursuit operation.
Nearby municipalities were also alerted to conduct checkpoints in all strategic locations in their respective areas of responsibility. — Lea Ylagan
Tags: ambush, Camarines Sur
