One dead body recovered, couple still buried presumed dead in Southern Leyte mudslide

By ERNA GORNE (PIA Southern Leyte)
January 10, 2007

MAASIN, Southern Leyte  –  Retrieval efforts are still on going for the couple Emelio Cadavos, 52 and Lilia Cadavos, 54, who are presumed to be dead as they were last seen alive at their house before mudslide hit two houses at about 4:45 in the afternoon Monday at Barangay Tampong, Sogod, Southern Leyte, SPO3 Remegio D. Talisic , Sogod PNP Police Chief reported.

The Philippine Army 43rd Infantry Battalion based in Sogod and led by Lt. Col. Mario Lacurom, immediately responded with rescue operations and recovered the bodies of Julian Cawaling, 79 and Mercedes Cawaling, 86 but the later was pronounced dead on arrival at Sogod Emergency Hospital , while the latter, Julian Cawaling is undergoing treatment.

The house of the Cadavos family was totally buried while the house where the Cawalings reside was partially covered with mud and water.

According to PNP, the upper portion of the said barangay has not been considered as among the high risk areas in the province as identified by the Mines and Geo Sciences Bureau in their high risk mapping and assessment study throughout the province.

However, the mudslide victims were said to have been informed by their friends that there are cracks signs at the portion of the mountain near where they were located, SPO3 Talisic added.