DAILY STAR: Negros Oriental

LA LIBERTAD - Manolo Magalso carefully moves about in the rubble where his home in barangay Solonggon, La Libertad town, once stood. Amid dimming hopes, he looks for clues on where to dig for the bodies of his wife, Lorna, 32, and children John Marc, 8, Jira Mae, 6 and Charity Joy, 8 months.

Manolo,33, was plowing his field nearby when the magnitude 6.8 earthquake struck last Monday at 11:49 a.m.

"When the ground started shaking, I looked at my house and saw the mountain above it slide and cover it with my family inside. I could only watch and cry," Manolo said trying to keep a brave face.

Official death toll 22,
but 82 still not found
BY JUDY F. PARTLOW

At least 22 people have been confirmed dead in Negros Oriental following the Magnitude 6.9 earthquake that rocked Dumaguete City, and other parts of the province Monday.

Scores of people were also reported missing and government and private groups are working round-the-clock to hopefully recover those believed buried in landslides in Guihulngan City and La Libertad.

As of 2:30 p.m. yesterday, the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, chaired by Governor Roel Degamo, officially placed the death toll at 22, with 12 in Guihulngan City, three in Jimalalud, three in Bindoy, one in Manjuyod and three in Tayasan.

PNoy visiting NegOr today
BY JUDY F. PARTLOW

President Benigno Simeon Aquino III is expected to visit Negros Oriental today to assess the devastation left behind by the Magnitude 6.9 earthquake that struck Dumaguete City and other northern parts of the province.

An initial report said the President is expected to arrive at around 9 a.m. at the Dumaguete airport where he willmeet with local officials for a briefing.

Aquino and party will change aircrafts later to conduct an aerial survey of the areas damaged by the earthquake, like the landslides in Solonggon, La Libertad and Planas, Guihulngan City.

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