Vice President Sara Duterte on Wednesday, June 10, visited families affected by the magnitude 7.8 earthquake that struck parts of Mindanao, offering condolences to those who lost loved ones and providing updates on relief efforts undertaken by the Office of the Vice President (OVP).

Among those she visited was the family of spouses Jimmy and Rose Batino of Barangay Tuyan, Malapatan, Sarangani, who died during the powerful earthquake on June 8.

According to relatives and local residents, the couple was near the shoreline cleaning their truck when the strong tremor triggered ground fissures and soil collapse. The incident reportedly swept them into the water, resulting in their drowning.

Duterte personally conveyed her sympathies and offered prayers for the bereaved family during the wake.

“Pinaabot ko duon sa mga pamilya ng mga namatayan ang pakikiramay ko at ng buong opisina ng Office of the Vice President kasama na ang aming pakikiramay sa pamilya sa lahat ng mga kamag-anak ng namatay (I conveyed my condolences, along with those of the entire Office of the Vice President, to the families of those who lost their loved ones. We extended our sympathies not only to the immediate families but also to all the relatives of the deceased),” Duterte told reporters in General Santos City.

The Vice President also visited injured earthquake victims confined in hospitals in Sarangani and General Santos City.

Duterte said the OVP's Disaster Operations Center and its Southern Mindanao Satellite Office immediately responded to the earthquake by deploying Kalusugan Food Trucks to support search-and-rescue operations.

The food trucks provided hot meals to rescuers, first responders, and personnel involved in recovery efforts at collapsed structures.

She added that the OVP also distributed rice food bags to families mourning relatives who died in the disaster and provided food and non-food relief boxes to residents displaced by the earthquake.

“Ang unang response po ng Disaster Operations Center ng Office of the Vice President at ng Satellite Office - Southern Mindanao Satellite Office ng Office of the Vice President ay ‘yung pagpapadala ng Kalusugan Food Trucks namin noong panahon ng search and rescue sa mga nawawala at mga biktima ng malakas na lindol. (The initial response of the Disaster Operations Center of the Office of the Vice President, together with the Southern Mindanao Satellite Office, was the deployment of our Kalusugan Food Trucks during the search and rescue operations for those missing and affected by the powerful earthquake),” Duterte said.

READ: 

Before arriving in Sarangani and General Santos, Duterte attended activities in Cotabato City related to the OVP's Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) Satellite Office.

The Vice President led the distribution of rice food bags to various sectors in a barangay in Cotabato City and inaugurated the EXTRA+Ordinary OVP Exhibit at a local school.

The exhibit aims to educate elementary and high school students about the history and contributions of Philippine vice presidents.

Speaking about the tragedy, Duterte emphasized the importance of disaster preparedness, noting that earthquakes often strike without warning.

She urged communities to familiarize themselves with proper earthquake response measures to reduce panic and improve safety during emergencies.

“Hindi natin alam na mangyayari ang lindol, wala siyang warning kaya ang pinakamabisa na paghahanda [at] panlaban na magawa natin ay ‘yung paghahanda natin kung ano ‘yung dapat nating gawin kung andyan na ‘yung lindol para hindi tayo magpa-panic at laging nasa isip natin kung ano ‘yung mga dapat nating gawin kung andyan na ‘yung ground shaking. (We could not have known that the earthquake would happen. It came without warning, which is why the most effective form of preparedness is knowing what to do once the earthquake strikes. This way, we avoid panic and keep in mind the steps we must take during ground shaking),” Duterte said.

The magnitude 7.8 Mindanao earthquake that struck on June 8 caused casualties, injuries, and displacement across several areas in the region, prompting ongoing relief and recovery operations by national and local government agencies.