Rescue teams in Mindanao to forgo watching Pacman’s fight

MANILA, Philippines - They were looking forward to watching Manny Pacquiao square off today with Mexican boxer Juan Manuel Marquez for the fourth time, but the troops from the Army’s 66th Infantry Battalion would not be cheering for the Filipino boxing icon.

Lt. Col. Antonino Florendo, 66th IB commander, said the troops would be busy searching for survivors and retrieving bodies, including those of their colleagues who went missing in the storm-devastated New Bataan town in Compostela Valley.

“Our search and rescue operations are continuing,” Florendo said.

Four of Florendo’s men – S/Sgt. Maximo Oliveras, Pfc. Ryan Hingosa, Pfc. Guina Batud and Pvt. Jonard Armodia – were among those who perished in rampaging floodwaters that wiped out the Charlie Company’s patrol base in Barangay Andap on Tuesday.

Florendo and his men are still searching for their missing colleagues: S/Sgt. Rufino Catague, Stg. Agustin Panaque, S/Sgt. Rommel Cabillon, Sgt. Dennis Connejos, Pfc. Mark Hopida, Pfc. Fermin Segapo and a certain Pfc. Armaiz.

The deluge also injured 19 soldiers, all engaged in pre-emptive evacuations. Four of the injured are battalion officers who are now confined at the Camp Panacan Station Hospital in Davao City.

“As exciting as Pacquiao-Marquez 4 is, the Armed Forces of the Philippines’ (AFP) search and rescue missions and humanitarian assistance operations will remain unhampered as our troops will continue to address the devastation in the wake of typhoon ‘Pablo’ that ravaged several provinces in the south if only to ease the pains and sufferings of the typhoon victims,” AFP spokesman Col. Arnulfo Marcelo Burgos said.

While live viewing of the Pacquiao-Marquez fight will be held via free telecasts in major military camps, Burgos said all ground troops are under orders not to let their guard down.

He added that off-duty personnel and their dependents will get the chance to view the fight with free live showing in several venues inside Camp Aguinaldo and major service camps.

“Soldiers and their dependents inside the General Headquarters can watch the fight inside the AFP Gymnasium that can hold an estimated 1,000 spectators. The AFP Medical Center will also open its auditorium to its battle-wounded soldiers and other patients,” Burgos said.

The Philippine Army headquarters in Fort Bonifacio will also open to viewers its Wellness Center that can accommodate 2,000 viewers, the Army Clubhouse that could cater to 500, and the Army General Hospital Multipurpose Hall that can accommodate its 171 patients.

Meanwhile, soldiers assigned in the Philippine Navy (PN) headquarters in Bonifacio Naval Base will get to watch the fight in the PN Officers’ Clubhouse, while soldiers in Sangley Point, Cavite can watch the fight in the Philippine Fleet Gymnasium. The Philippine Air Force will also open their headquarters gymnasium to viewers.

In Compostela Valley and Davao Oriental, the troops will still have the chance to see the fight in replays during their free time or while off-duty.

“As a military reservist with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel, Pacquiao’s fight will surely bring new fire and spirit to our brave and selfless soldiers conducting search, rescue and relief missions to our brothers and sisters affected by typhoon Pablo,” AFP chief Gen. Jessie Dellosa said.

“The AFP, along with millions of Filipinos, has its full support to Manny Pacquiao in his fourth fight against Juan Manuel Marquez. Let his resiliency and determination in the ring be a source of inspiration as we all try to bounce back from this tragedy,” he added.

On the other hand, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) has sent another team of rescuers to help in the search and retrieval operations in Cateel, Davao Oriental.

MMDA Chairman Francis Tolentino said the 15-man contingent was the third batch of rescuers the agency has sent to Mindanao to help in extensive efforts to aid the thousands of victims of flashfloods brought by the storm.

Tolentino said the Cateel team is composed of members of the Road Emergency Group, Public Safety Office, Baklas Billboard and the Sidewalk Clearing Operations Group.

Tolentino said the team that was deployed on Friday afternoon will first touch base at the capital town of Mati to coordinate with the local Office of Civil Defense.

“We want to field more personnel to worst-hit areas in Mindanao as much as we can so we could hasten rescue and relief operations there,” Tolentino said.

The Cateel rescue team is equipped with search cameras, chainsaws, and other hand tools needed for search and retrieval, said Tolentino.

Last Thursday, the MMDA sent two teams to Compostela Valley and a two-ton water purifying machine.

The provincial government of Albay also sent a 72-man disaster relief team headed by Gov. Joey Salceda.

The team left Friday to hand over the cash donation of P1 million for Compostela Valley and Davao del Sur, the two provinces most severely damaged by the typhoon.  –  With Mike Frialde, Celso Amo