More dead bodies recovered in Misamis Occ shores

OZAMIZ CITY, Misamis Occidental, Jan. 13 (PIA) -- At least six (6) more dead human bodies in advanced stages of decomposition were recovered from the shores of Misamis Occidental while nine (9) others in the same condition were recovered from the shores of Zamboanga del Norte, days after the onslaught of Typhoon Sendong.

This brings up to 1,388 the number of accounted dead bodies who were believed victims of ‘Sendong,’ of which only 837 were identified, as of yesterday, Jan. 12, Regional Director Ana Caňeda of the Office of Civil Defense (OCD), region 10, said.

Data gathered by the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (RDRRMC), region 10, also show that 737 of the dead bodies were from Cagayan de Oro City, 693 were from Iligan City and 45 were from Bukidnon.

Caňeda, who is the Chairperson of RDRRMC-10, said their data also show that 5,889 were injured during the onslaught of TS Sendong, but only 138 of them were identified.

Meanwhile, the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) has been cited as government cluster lead, with Dr. Tammy Uy as focal person, in the Disaster Victims Identification (DVI) Cluster.

As of Jan. 5, the DVI Team has taken a total of 243 specimens for DNA testing, gathered 214 specimens for ante mortem data and processed and buried 200 unidentified bodies in Cagayan de Oro City.

It has also taken a total of 121 specimens for DNA testing, gathered 118 specimen for ante-mortem data and processed and buried 128 unidentified bodies in Iligan City, as of the period. (PIA-10 Mis. Occ.)

by Rutchie Cabahug-Aguhob
PIA Press Release
Friday, January 13, 2012

http://www.pia.gov.ph/?m=1&t=1&id=72485

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Mom still hopeful of finding 3 kids lost in flood after almost a month

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY—Lucina Waluhan’s only wish when she celebrated her 32nd birthday on Thursday was to see her three children again.

Nearly a month since up to 30 feet of rampaging water inundated the city on Dec. 17, Lucina said she had not lost hope of seeing them one day.

Mary, 6; Ian, 4; and Joshua, 2 years old, were among hundreds of people still missing from the devastating flood that had killed some 700 people.

When the flood struck, Lucina said her husband, Felix, had wrapped Mary Joy with a jacket and tied her on his back.

She said she took their two other children with her as they drifted down the river. “I lost them (Ian and Joshua) under the bridge,” she recounted.

Lucina was later rescued in Camiguin Island while Felix was swept and rescued in Iligan City.

As tears rolled down her cheek, Lucina said it was important for her to see her children again, even if they died in the flood.

“I wanted to see them even if they are gone, that way at least, I know where they are,” she said.

Felix refused to talk about his children anymore.

But Lucina said her husband did not tire looking for them every day.

She said Felix—armed with photos of their three children—would visit nearby areas, including mortuaries, in search of the children.

Lucina said they also provided the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) with their blood samples for DNA extraction.

The NBI’s disaster victim identification process would help identify those who perished in a calamity.

The bodies of those who perished in the Dec. 17 flood here were processed at the hangar of the National Grid Corp. of the Philippines.

“It would take at least two months before the result could be released,” Lucina said.

Lucina said she and her husband had not given up hope of finding the children, or at least one of them, one day.

The couple’s neighbors at the evacuation center here told the Inquirer there are nights when they could hear Lucina crying.

“Felix would stand outside the tent, staring into the night sky as if looking for answers for the questions he cannot fathom,” one of them said.

“The hardest thing to do is to give up hope knowing that we have not seen any body and they had not appeared in our dreams, somehow, we know that they are in good hands, but we need to see them so we can rest too,” Lucina said.

By Bobby Lagsa
Inquirer Mindanao
10:56 pm | Friday, January 13th, 2012

http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/127657/mom-still-hopeful-of-finding-3-kids-lost-in-flood-after-almost-a-month

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Pilot farewelled as identification process continues

Hot balloon pilot Lance Hopping packed a lot into his 53 years, including meeting his father late in life.

Mr Hopping, who was at the helm of the balloon that crashed near Carterton on Saturday, killing all 11 on board, was reunited 17 years ago with his terminally ill father Martin, who travelled from Australia in search of his long-lost son.

"They made up for the years apart and spent as much time together as they could," Mr Hopping's three sisters said in a statement issued by police last night.

Sadly, Mr Hopping did not get a chance to meet his sixth grandchild, who was born two weeks ago in Sydney.

"Lance was a great brother, he had a great loving relationship with his family and friends and there wasn't anything he wouldn't do for anyone," his sisters said.

"He loved his Harley, he loved his helicopters and balloons and he loved to drive his car fast, but his greatest love was his family."

Mr Hopping, affectionately known as Hoppy, began flying helicopters about 20 years ago as a hobby after gaining his pilot's licence and dropped his children to school in his helicopter as a special treat.

Children Henare Hopping, 35, Hayley Hopping, 31, Dani Siemonek, 22, and fiancee Nina Kelynack described him as "really happy, vibrant, caring, big-hearted, with a good sense of humour and a cheeky grin".

"Everyone in Carterton knew Hoppy and he will be greatly missed. He is gone too soon."

His funeral will be held on Monday in Carterton.

Meanwhile, officers identifying the bodies of the victims have undergone compulsory sessions with a police psychologist.

"After an event like this we always go through trauma counselling," Wairarapa area commander Inspector Brent Register said.

He said about 18 officers from Wairarapa and around the Wellington police district had been involved in the disaster victim identification (DVI) process.

That process continues at Wellington mortuary, while the police family liaison unit will continue to deliver news of positive identification to the families of unidentified victims.

Four of the 11 bodies have been formally identified – Mr Hopping, Wellington couple Johannes Jordaan, known as Chrisjan, 21, and girlfriend Alexis Still, 19, and Stephen Hopkirk, 50, of Lower Hutt.

Police and Transport Accident Investigation Commission (TAIC) scene examinations have concluded at the site and a container holding balloon wreckage was removed from the scene just after 1.30pm yesterday.
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The container was to be kept at a secure Wairarapa facility overnight and transported to TAIC's Wellington workshop today.

The site – a paddock on the Searle family farm – was then blessed with water, waiata, prayer and song by a group from Carterton's Hurunui-O-Rangi marae, with representatives from Wairarapa's two main iwi, and Carterton's St Mark's Church.

"It really marks the transition from a time and place where something dreadful happened to a time when the land returns to its usual use," the Rev Jenny Chalmers of St Mark's said.

The ceremony was attended by emergency services staff, air accident investigators, victims' family members, police, Somerset Rd residents and Victim Support staff.

Last updated 05:00 13/01/2012
http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/6249947/Pilot-farewelled-as-identification-process-continues

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