Death toll from Semirara landslide remains at 5, DOLE sends inspectors to mine

(Updated 11:49 a.m, Feb. 18) - The death toll from the landslide that hit a mining pit in Semirara in Antique province this week remains at five, even as search-and-retrieval operations were paused Friday.

 

Energy Undersecretary Ramon Oca said they can only pray the other miners still trapped in the mining pit are still alive, radio dzBB reported Saturday.

 

"Five dead have been retrieved, three have been rescued. We are always praying they (trapped miners) will still be alive," Oca said.

 

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council said the landslide occurred at 11:54 p.m. of Feb. 13 at Semirara Coal and Mining Corp. in Caluya, Antique.

 

It identified the five fatalities as Abner Lim, 39; Joven Hocate, 31; George Bragat, 30; Efren Equiza, 28; and Anthony Siblet, 26.

 

Rescued were Marjun Catoto, 23; Adrian Climar, 29; and Leonardo Sojor, 40.

 

Still missing are Leovigildo Porras, 50; Jan Riel Planca, 28; Randy Tamparong, 30; Richard Padernilla, 26; and Junjie Gomez, 19.

 

Meanwhile, the search operations for the missing miners were paused Friday due to the unstable ground, the dzBB report said.

 

DOLE sends inspectors to coal mine

 

A report on state-run Philippines News Agency said the Department of Labor and Employment sent two inspectors to the coal mine to inspect the firm's labor and occupational safety and health standards.

 

The PNA said the DOLE sent Lorraine Villegas, officer-in-charge of the DOLE Antique Field Office, and Engineer Michael Gison, labor employment officer.

 

Both officials traveled from San Jose to Libertad, Antique where they should have boarded a boat to Caluya, the PNA said.

 

"I have been informed that inclement weather prevented the early arrival of the two DOLE inspectors, but they are on standby to go to the remote island once the rough seas become calmer," Baldoz was quoted in the PNA report as saying.

 

She added the two inspectors will coordinate with the investigating team of the DILG and DOE and will have updates by Sunday.  — ELR/KG, GMA News