TINOC, Ifugao– A young truck driver was buried alive in a huge landslide in Buhyu, Binablayan, Tinoc, Ifugao at around 7:30 pm of August 8, 2017 due to non-stop moderate rain.
Personnel of Tinoc Municipal Police Station, MDRRMO, BFP, Rural Health Unit and volunteers responded to the site upon receipt of the information.
Police report identified the lone victim as Janel Baguista, 19 years old, driver and a resident of Sitio Mabalat, Gumhang, Tinoc, Ifugao.
Investigation by Tinoc Police disclosed that two Isuzu Elf trucks loaded with vegetables, one of which was driven by the victim were heading towards Bambang, Nueva Vizcaya when they were stranded by a landslide at Buhyu, Binablayan, Tinoc.
While clearing the road, suddenly, the mountain eroded and buried the victim while others managed to run to safety.
Search and rescue operation was conducted evening of August 8 and the whole day of August 9. The rescuers recovered the cadaver of Baguista at 4 pm of August 9.
In an interview with the chief of police of Tinoc MPS, Police Inspector Reynaldo Timmango said, “It was not raining hard but it was continuous and the soil was loose due to the ongoing road widening.”
Timmango added that one of the trucks tilted on the road shoulder when the bigger landslide happened. He also clarified that the truck was not buried by the debris.** Ferdie Cariño Castañeda
