Body of collapsed wall victim retrieved

MANILA, Philippines - The body of a man who was killed after a concrete wall of a bridge collapsed on his house during heavy rains Tuesday in Valenzuela City was retrieved by rescuers some 12 hours after the incident.

City social worker Linda Santiago said the remains of Rodel Pugoy Sr., 27, were recovered at 10:15 p.m. after rescuers were able to break huge adobe blocks that covered the victim’s shanty under the bridge in Barangay Ugong.

“The search team did not stop until the body of Pugoy was retrieved. I was there with the other local officials led by the mayor,” Santiago told The STAR yesterday.

Santiago said a concrete support of a bridge connecting Barangays Ugong and Gen. T. de Leon caved in during heavy rains covering at least three shanties of informal settlers in the area.

Pugoy died while his two children, Rodel Jr., 3, and Rhiver, 2, were rescued.

Nine-year-old Christian Serrano, a neighbor of Pugoy, also died in the incident.

Mayor Sherwin Gatchalian will give P10,000 financial assistance to each family of the victims. The city government will also shoulder the victims’ burial expenses.

Gatchalian ordered the city engineering office to demolish all houses near the concrete bridge in Gen. T. de Leon, Valenzuela City.

Ana Mejia, city public information chief, said some 26 families were evacuated Tuesday night.

Gatchalian said the relocation of residents in the area should be the responsibility of the National Transmission Corp. (TransCo).

But the National Grid Corp. of the Philippines (NGCP), which operates TranCo’s transmission business, said the NGCP does not own the property.

The NGCP warned informal settlers that it is dangerous to live near transmission facilities. – With Jerry Botial, Neil Jerome Morales