CAMP MELCHOR DELA CRUZ, Gamu, Isabela -- Military retrieval teams had been deployed as three Citizen Armed Force Geographical Unit (CAFGU) Auxiliary Company members were among those confirmed dead in the Oct. 30 Banawel, Natonin landslide in Mountain Province, the military here said Friday.
Army Capt. Jefferson Somera, 5th Infantry Division spokesperson, told the Philippine News Agency (PNA) over the phone that the fatalities were identified as Leobel Orchilion, Linang Pallichang, and Jonathan Ngilin, all of the Ubao patrol base in Aguinaldo, Ifugao, while two others — whose names were withheld — remain missing.
“We grieve with their immediate families as we bring more retrieval troops to the landslide site. We hope that the missing ones are alive,” he said.
Somera said the CAFGUs went to work as laborers and skilled workers at the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) project to compensate for their meager allowances.
They were on leave when the landslide happened, according to Lt. Col. Rembert Baylosis, 77th Infantry Battalion commander, as an auxiliary member works only for 15 days a month and the remaining days are used for other jobs for family income.
Major Gen. Perfecto Rimando, 5th Infantry Division commander, said they had mobilized troops to help in retrieval operations.
He condoled with the families of the dead CAFGUs. (PNA)
