The search and retrieval operations of the Philippine Army for the 60 persons still missing in La Libertad and Guihulngan City, in Negros Oriental, have been suspended because of the recurrence of landslides, that buried some areas where they had been digging for almost two weeks now, Lt. Col. Ramil Bitong, 11th Infantry Battalion commander, said yesterday.

Bitong, however, said that although the retrieval operations was suspended the troops of the 32nd Division Reconnaissance Company and 11th IB Bravo Company, are still deployed in the landslide areas of Brgy. Planas in Guihulngan City, and Brgy. Solonggon, La Libertad.

Bitong said there are still 38 missing persons in La Libertad, and 22 in Guihulngan City, bringing to 60 those who remain unaccounted for. Records of the National Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council showed the death toll from the 6.9 magnitude earthquake that struck Feb. 6 stood at 43, as of yesterday.

NDRRMC director Benito Ramos said “Chances are there are no more survivors”, almost two weeks of searching for missing persons.

A memorial service and a mass was offered yesterday for the quake victims in Brgy. Planas, Guihulngan, with local officials leading the planting of crosses at the sites of landslides. It was also attended by Col. Francisco Patrimonio, 302nd Infantry Brigade commander, members of various rescue groups, personnel of RDRRMC and Department of Health.

Ramos said the quake-hit areas have already been cleared of people.

During the mass, Bitong said local and military officials took turns in explaining the predicament of the soldiers and volunteers in the retrieval operations, stressing that it cannot go on forever.

He also said they are confirming reports that some of the missing quake victims are members of the New People’s Army, as they also recovered bullets of an M-16 assault rifle and subversive documents from the rubble.

The 302nd Infantry Brigade has suspended its military operations against the NPA in the quake-affected areas of central Negros.

Negros Oriental Gov. Roel Degamo also led the distribution of relief goods to quake-affected victims in Guihulngan City, whose officials are considering the extension of financial assistance to families of the fatalities.

The NDRRMC has placed the infrastructure damage due to quake at P365 million. It also affected 28,073 families. * GPB

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