Sara Duterte: 36 more bodies recovered from NCCC mall

The bodies of 36 people trapped in the fire that engulfed the New City Commercial Center (NCCC) Mall have already been found, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte informed their relatives on Monday.

“We already found the 36,” Duterte said in Visayan, following a Mass held outside the mall.

The news was first announced by the Bureau of Fire Protection.

“‘Pag pumasok po kayo sa mall, iyon pong umiikot na hagdanan, sa dulo po noon, iyon na po ang lobby ng SSI at nandoon po ang bodies, nakikita namin,” BFP regional director Fire Senior Superintendent Wilberto Rico Niel Kwan Tiu said. 

Tiu was referring to the office of the Research Now SSI call center at the fourth floor of the building.

“I personally counted them before I gave the information to our honorable mayor. And I counted them, around 36 in number,” he added, as the loved ones of the victims wailed.

Earlier in the day, Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II ordered the National Bureau of Investigation to look into the fire that gutted the Davao City mall.

37 missing

A total of 37 people were tagged as missing by their relatives, but only one body was recovered as of Sunday.

Citing information from the City Government of Davao as reported by their relatives, presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said the missing persons were the following:

1. Jessica Solis

2. Gantioco Celestial Jr

3. Ian Kiem Adlawan

4. Regine Generales

5. Christen Joy Garzon

6. Apple Jane Celades

7. Iana Apalacio

8. Jonas Basalan

9. Jim Benedict Quimsing

10. Kurtchin Angela Bangoy

11. Mary Joy Daluro

12. Randy Balcao

13. Rosyl Montanez

14. Missy Rose Artiaga

15. Analiza Penarejo

16. Christine Joy Ferraren

17. Ivan Roble

18. Christine Alviola

19. Alexandra Moreno Castillo

20. Hongijangjian- family not interviewed

21. Desiree Gayle Zacarias

22. Jesseca Samontina

23. Mary Louielyn Bongcayao

24. Nancy Loyd Abad

25. Jeffrey Sismar

26. Johani Matundo

27. Joyne Pabelonia

28. Elyn Joy Yorsua

29. Shiela Mae Bacaling

30. Lister Jade Entera

31. Charlyn Liwaya

32. Mikko Demafeliz

33. Roderick Antipuesto

34. Rhenzi Nova Muyco

35. Roderick Constantinopla

36. Venus Joy Kimpo

37. Janine Joy Obo

In a statement on Sunday, the company confirmed that 37 of their employees were missing amid the fire.

The fire at the mall started at 9:35 a.m. on Saturday.

On early Sunday morning, President Rodrigo Duterte visited the families of the victims and wept as he announced that those who were trapped inside the mall might have “zero chance of survival.” The fire was still ongoing at the time. — RSJ, GMA News