AFP: Search, rescue ops continue for 16 missing persons in Ulysses' wake

The Armed Forces of Philippines’ Northern, and Southern Luzon Commands have carried on with their search and rescue operations for the 16 still missing persons in the wake of Typhoon Ulysses.

Interviewed on Super Radyo dzBB on Sunday, AFP spokesperson Major General  Edgard Arevalo also noted that the rest of the AFP forces in NOLCOM and SOLCOM already shifted to rehabilitation support and relief operations.

“Except lamang ito sa mga areas na nagpapatuloy ang ating search, rescue and retrieval. Halimbawa na diyan ‘yung tropa natin sa NOLCOM na magpahanggang ngayon may mga hinahanap pa rin sila na missing na tao sa Banaue,” Arevalo said.

“Samantala, dito naman sa SOLCOM, ini-schedule na natin ang paghahanap naman dito sa mga nawawalang mangingisda, at helicopter naman ang ating gagamitin,” he added.

According to Arevalo, the AFP operations recovered 64 bodies. Around 276,885 people were rescued, mostly from NOLCOM. Of the number, 45 were wounded.

Based on its latest report on Sunday, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council recorded 73 fatalities, 73 wounded, and 19 still missing people due to Ulysses. —LBG, GMA News