11 of 17 missing miners in Mankayan retrieved

BAGUIO CITY, Philippines – Thanks to the K9 patrol, which came Thursday, August 27, retrievers at Sitio Elizabeth in Taneg in the mining town of Mankayan, Benguet, were able to recover and identify 11 of 17 missing miners.

These small-scale miners were buried while sleeping after a huge part of a mountain fell on their temporary barracks on the night of August 21 at the height of Typhoon Ineng. One other body recovered on Monday, August 31, remained to be identified.

Found today are Rocky Mangrubang and Ronald Paul Angel. Recovered last Saturday was Crisanto Bagtong Ablao, a native of Mankayan.

Ablao’s recovery was all the more heartbreaking for the rescuers because his son was often seen in the area looking for him.

Ablao’s younger brother, Crispin Ablao, was the first to be recovered on August 22.

Last Friday, Jose Adcapan Aluyan was identified by his wife.

The rest of the identified miners are: Felimon Adcapan, Armando Dayao, and Jasper Olivares (all found August 23); Efren Balicdan (found August 24); Nardo Mocnongan (found August 25); and Marvin Baturi (found August 27).

Still missing are Ronaldo and Paulita Angel, Harold Baturi, Mark Balicdan, and John Aluyan Jr.

Rescuers had to dig as deep as 10 meters to get to the barracks. Last August 27, the dog sniffers arrived. – Rappler.com