Two months after Yolanda, DPWH chief accountant remains missing

In early November last year, Public Works chief accountant Cipriano Pumanes went to Tacloban City to conduct a seminar for the department's field officers. Two months later, he has yet to come back. 

Pumanes could be among the 1,785 people listed as missing by the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council since super typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan) struck central Philippines on Nov. 8, 2013.

As of Jan. 14 this year, the NDRRMC said Yolanda claimed at least 6,201 lives. 
 

“I'm still losing one of our head office personnel, our chief accountant who was assigned to give a seminar during those days na inabutan (ng Yolanda), missing hanggang ngayon,” Pubic Works Secretary Rogelio Singson said at a news forum Monday.

While Singson did not identify the missing DPWH staff, GMA News Online was able to confirm Pumanes' identity with Assistant Secretary Ardeliza Medenilla.

Medenilla said Pumanes went to Tacloban on November 7, a day before Yolanda struck the area.

"He was supposed to return to Manila on Friday [Nov. 8] or Saturday [No.v 9]. He was [expected] to be with the other staff pero hindi na siya nakapunta sa airport ... nagkahiwalay na sila ng ibang taga-Central Office," she said.

Until now, Medenilla said they are still coordinating with the National Bureau of Investigation to locate Pumanes.  "We are continuing to search for him."