Archdiocese of Cebu mourns passing of priest during Odette onslaught

The Archdiocese of Cebu mourned the passing of parish priest Rev. Fr. Eliseo "Leo" Fernandez at the height of Typhoon Odette last week.

According to a report by Luisito Santos of Super Radyo dzBB on Saturday, the archdiocese expressed its profound sadness over the passing of the parish priest.

The archdiocese said Fernandez was found floating in the shores of Toledo City on December 18, two days after Odette lashed the province.

He was identified through his ring with his name engraved on it.

Authorities said his clothes also matched with what he was wearing on the night he was supposedly swept away by a strong current.

The parish was also near the river, which was believed to have been swept away by flash floods brought by the typhoon.

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) on Saturday said the number of deaths due to Odette had reached 367 as of Friday.

A total of 343 cities and municipalities were placed under state of calamity due to the impact of the typhoon. — Richa Noriega/VBL, GMA News