By ZALDY COMANDA
LA TRINIDAD, Benguet – After 21 days of relentless searching, the body of a senior citizen who went missing after a landslide buried his home at the height of Typhoon Emong was recovered from Sitio Bantogey river in Barangay Banengbeng, Sablan, Benguet, on August 14.
According to Sablan Municipal Police Station (MPS), Barangay Tanod Sherwin Sholin spotted a body lodged beneath a large rock in the river.
Authorities immediately coordinated with La Trinidad MPS, Benguet Provincial Forensic Unit (PFU), Sablan Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), Sablan Municipal Local Government Unit (MLGU), Barangay officials, and the victim’s family.
Rescue personnel carefully retrieved the body, which was positively identified by Epher Julian Cariño as his father, Nardo Diplat Cariño.
Nardo was reported missing on July 25, around 4:00 a.m., when a landslide triggered by Typhoon Emong buried his home in Sitio Talingguroy, Wangal, La Trinidad.
Authorities believe that the intense rainfall and strong southwest monsoon winds may have swept debris—and the victim—toward the river, eventually carrying him to the neighboring town of Sablan.
