54 dead, 42 missing due to Ompong —Tolentino

A total of 54 people were reported killed due to Typhoon Ompong, with 42 others missing as of Sunday night, presidential political adviser Francis Tolentino said Monday.

Interviewed on Unang Balita, Tolentino said the 54 fatalities were recorded in Benguet (38), Baguio City (9), Kalinga (1) and Mountain Province (6).

He said in Benguet, 34 fatalities were recorded in Itogon, three in La Trinidad and one in Tuba.

Meanwhile, of the 42 missing, 36 were in Itogon, five in Baguio and one in Kabayan.

Tolentino, whom President Rodrigo Duterte designated as his "point man" in government efforts related to Ompong, said the casualties in Itogon were residents who sought refuge in a chapel that was buried by landslide.

"Kasi po 'yung pinakamalkapit na puwede nila makublihan, kasi matagal na silang pina-evacuate, ay nagsama-sama po doon sa chapel," he said.

Tolentino said although Cayagan and Isabela were the hardest hit provinces by Ompong, no casualties were reported in these areas.

"Yung pinangangambahan na storm surge, yung pinangangambahan na mamamatay sa flooding, wala po kasi tumalima yung mga kababayan natin sa Cagayan at Isabela kasi may experience sila sa super typhoon Lawin," he said.

Tolentino, meanwhile, urged local governments of affected areas to declare state of calamity so that they could implement price freeze on basic commodities.

"Dagliang mag-declare ng state of calamity kasi yun yung magti-trigger ng price freeze, para di tumaas presyo," he said. —KBK, GMA News