ORMOC CITY– A 68-year-old man from Caibiran, Biliran drowned after refusing to evacuate his home located under a bridge at the height of Tropical Depression “Opong,” authorities confirmed on Friday, September 26.

Police identified the victim only as “Gogoy,” a resident of Barangay Villa Vicenta, Caibiran. His lifeless body was discovered at about 7:15 a.m. in a farmland in Sitio Borin, Villa Vicenta.

According to a report from the Caibiran Municipal Police Station (MPS), the discovery was made after Barangay Captain Sergio R. Azur III informed authorities that a dead body had been found in the area. Boyet Pilapil, a resident who was searching for his carabao, first spotted the remains.

Police and Bureau of Fire Protection personnel immediately responded and confirmed the discovery. Initial investigation showed that the barangay chairman had earlier advised the victim to evacuate his home under the bridge due to rising waters, but the man reportedly refused to leave.

Municipal Health Officer Dr. Dionesio Plaza, who conducted a post-mortem examination on-site, ruled that the victim died of asphyxia due to drowning, caused by flash floods triggered by the storm.

The victim’s body was later brought to a local funeral home before being turned over to his family.

(ROBERT DEJON)

ORMOC CITY– The body of a nine-year-old girl who went missing at the height of Tropical Depression “Opong” was recovered along the seawaters of Barangay Marsabaras, Almagro, Samar on Friday morning, September 27.

Police said the victim, a resident of Sitio Banog, Barangay Viga in Maripipi, Biliran, was reported missing at around 2 a.m. on Thursday, September 26, during the storm’s onslaught in the island municipality of Maripipi.

According to the Almagro Municipal Police Station, a local resident identified only as “Rey,” 45, of Barangay Magsaysay, reported at about 2:20 p.m. on the same day that he had discovered a floating body in the seawaters of Marsabaras. The girl’s remains were undressed, bloated, and in an early stage of decomposition.

Authorities immediately coordinated with the local Rural Health Unit to examine the cadaver for identifying marks. All barangays in Almagro were also alerted for information on any missing persons.

At about 5:30 p.m., the victim’s mother, identified only as “Lily,” confirmed that the recovered body was her daughter. The child’s remains were later transported back to Maripipi, Biliran for proper disposition and burial.

(ROBERT DEJON)

ORMOC CITY– A woman seeking refuge from Typhoon “Opong” was killed early Friday morning, September 26, when a coconut tree fell on the house where she had evacuated in Barangay Malajog, Tinambacan District, Calbayog City.

Police identified the victim only as “Vilma,” of legal age, single, unemployed, and a resident of Purok 3, Barangay Malajog.

According to the Calbayog City Police Station, the incident occurred around 3:00 a.m. while the victim and several others were asleep inside the house of her cousin’s live-in partner. Initial investigation revealed that Vilma had evacuated there the night before to escape the storm.

At the height of the typhoon, a nearby coconut tree was uprooted by strong winds and crashed into the house, fatally striking the victim. Responding officers found the structure severely damaged upon arrival.

Rescuers from the Calbayog City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office brought the victim’s remains to a local funeral home. Police have coordinated with the City Health Office for a post-mortem examination.

(ROBERT DEJON)