Body of Sibugay landslide victim recovered

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines – Members of a search and retrieval team have found the body of one of the four minors who were buried in a landslide in Kabasalan town, Zamboanga Sibugay last week, police said yesterday.

Chief Inspector Ariel Huesca, spokesman for the Police Regional Office 9, said the body of Fatima Maghanoy, 12, was found under the rubble in Barangay Sayaw at about 4 p.m. Sunday.

Huesca said they were still searching for the three other victims, including Maghanoy’s brother Eugene, 9; and her cousins Sherlyn Mae Maghanoy, 7, and her brother, Eziquel Meziah.

The children took shelter in an abandoned house at the foot of a hill when the landslide occurred following heavy rain on May 28.

Huesca said the search and retrieval operation was conducted manually as the area, located eight kilometers away from the town proper, was not accessible by heavy equipment.

The local government committed to help Maghanoy’s parents in the burial expenses.