LIFELESS. The body of one of the five members of the Bulacan Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) was found in Sitio Banga Banga, Barangay Camias, San Miguel town in Bulacan in the aftermath of Super Typhoon Karding on Monday (Sept. 26, 2022). The PDRRMO members were deployed to rescue residents when they were swept away by raging floodwaters. (Photo courtesy of Barangay Camias)
CITY OF MALOLOS, Bulacan – Five members of the Bulacan Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) were found dead in San Miguel town in the aftermath of Super Typhoon Karding Monday.
Governor Daniel Fernando on Monday morning identified the five rescuers as George Agustin, Narciso Calayag Jr., Troy Justin Agustin, Jerson Resurreccion and Marby Bartolome.
He said the victims were in Sitio Galas, Barangay Camias in San Miguel town and about to conduct a search and rescue mission when rushing floodwater carried them away.
The PDDRMO members were deployed around 4 a.m. to rescue some residents in the village and in nearby Barangay Tigpalas, both in San Miguel.
"While they were preparing the lifeboats, the flash flood rushed to their location and they were swept away by flash floods," Fernando said in an interview.
Lt. Col. Romualdo Andres, acting San Miguel police chief, said they received a report at around 7 a.m. Monday that the victims' bodies were found in Sitio Banga Banga, Barangay Camias.
Andres said personnel of the San Miguel Police Station were dispatched to assist in the retrieval of the bodies.
Heroes
In a statement, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) joined the provincial government and the people of Bulacan in mourning the death of the five rescuers.
“Our snappy salute to Narciso Calayag, Jerson Resurreccion, Marvy Bartolome, George Agustin, and Troy Justin Agustin of the BPDRRMO for responding to the call of duty and rendering an unequivocal testament of genuine public service even at the expense of their own lives,” Interior Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr. said.
He added that the fallen rescuers exhibited their “unparalleled commitment” to public service.
“Ang inyo pong serbisyo ay hindi matatapatan ng kahit anumang halaga lalo na sa panahon ng kalamidad. Salamat po sa inyo! (No amount of money can ever match your service, especially in times of calamities. Thank you very much),” he added.
Abalos, meanwhile, enjoined Filipinos to be inspired by the dedication to duty exemplified by the rescuers, stressing that their lives” were not wasted and were lived for the service of their fellow Filipinos.”
Fernando earlier assured that all benefits intended for the victims will be given to their respective families.
He also vowed to provide personal financial assistance to the families of the victims. (with report from Lloyd Caliwan/PNA)
