Backhoe operator's body in Rizal trash slide recovered; 3 more missing

MANILA, Philippines - The body of one of four persons who were buried by a trash slide in a private sanitary landfill in Rodriguez, Rizal last week was recovered on Wednesday by a team deployed by the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA).

MMDA chairman Francis Tolentino announced that members of the MMDA team retrieved the body of backhoe operator Gary Balahibo. The MMDA team initially recovered the buried backhoe before discovering Balahibo’s body.

“Yes. It was the MMDA that retrieved the body from the backhoe,” said Tolentino.

But according to Calabarzon police director, Benito Estipona, the body of Balahibo was retrieved by personnel of a private firm and not by the MMDA.

Estipona added that with the retrieval of Balahibo’s body, the search continues for the remains of the three other victims. They were identified by police as Pablito Esto, Eddie Malano and Rovidico Olod.

The four were buried after the trash slide happened at about 6 pm at the sanitary landfill located at Sitio Lucutan Maliit, Barangay San Isidro.