By Armando Fenequito Jr.
MAGSAYSAY, Davao del Sur - A family trapped in a remote area after the three earthquake incidents here was finally rescued by authorities on Wednesday night.
(SRU Davao facebook/ MANILA BULLETIN)
This was confirmed by 2nd Davao del Sur Provincial Mobile Force Company (DSPMFC) commander Police Maj. Yancee Butch Golocan in an interview.
Golocan said personnel from DSPMFC, Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) and Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) formed a team to rescue the trapped family, after the PCG received information during their medical mission that a family was trapped in a secluded area in Purok 8, Sitio Limonso, Barangay Maibo.
He said the team conducted a validation process through the barangay officials there and after its confirmation, the rescue operation took place on November 6.
Golocan said the family might be already trapped since the first tremor last October 16, and opted to stay since they have a nine-month-old baby and a bedridden family member.
Also, one of the possibilities of choosing to stay was the danger of landslides in the area since after the first quake, aftershocks frequently hit the town.
The team went up the area at 12:15 noon trekking for 15 kilometers from the central part of the barangay and reached the trapped family at 2:15 p.m.
They immediately evacuated the members of the family identified as Reymar Masili, nine months old, Ronnie Masili, 31 (bedridden) , Linda Masili, 85, Marissa Muñoz, 17, Celin Capion, 41 and Imelda Emilio, 46.
The team, along with rescued family, walked for four hours and reached the evacuation center in Barangay Maibo at 6:56 p.m.
Upon their arrival, Ronnie Masili and the 85-year-old Linda were rushed to Southern Philippines Medical Center for immediate medical attention.