BONTOC, Mountain Province — Rescuers and volunteers retrieved on Thursday eight cadavers in landslide-stricken areas in this landlocked province in the ongoing search, rescue, and retrieval operations for the missing persons due to the effects of typhoon “Pepeng.”

The bodies of Resly Bansil, RJ Bansil, Elisa Celino, Jayson Basa, Victor Balteng, and Victorino Albing, all victims of the October 8, 2009 landslide in Kayan East, Tadian, Mountain Province were found by rescuers and volunteers with the aid of K-9 sniffing dogs provided by the Philippine Army.

In Anabel, Sadanga town, the remains of Julius Kihtawas was fished by rescuers along the Chico River after his body was seen floating along the river for several days but the strong water current prevented them from immediately retrieving the victim’s body.

Initially, the provincial disaster coordinating council distributed appropriate assistance to the calamity victims over and above the assistance to be provided by the Office of the President and the National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC).

Based on the PDCC records, at least 41 persons died and dozens of others were injured when several landslides struck several places in the different towns of the province.

The provincial government already released to the relatives of the victims P10,000 each to the casualties while P5,000 each were given to those who were injured and to those whose houses were partially or totally damaged.

A report from the Ilocos Sur Provincial Disaster Coordinating Council which was submitted to the provincial government showed that the body of Jun Belio of Mabalite, Tadian, Mountain Province who was reportedly carried away by the rushing waters of the Abra River was found n Cauayan, Ilocos Sur and was eventually turned over to his relatives.

At present, rescuers and volunteers are still looking for the bodies of four missing persons who were reportedly victims of either landslides or drowning in the different towns.

Aside from the search, retrieval and rescue operations, the PDCC is also confined in facilitating the clearing of landslides and restoring portions of road cuts along the different roads linking Mountain province and other parts of the Cordillera and Regions I and II to ensure the smooth delivery of goods as well as the travel of motorists coming in and out of the province.