Search and rescue teams retrieved the body of a 27-year-old man who was buried in a landslide triggered by the magnitude 7.8 earthquake in Glan, Sarangani on Thursday, June 18, 2026.

The Sarangani Provincial Information office identified the victim as Wilbert Novio, a resident of Barangay Congan.

Special forces from the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) and the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) recovered his body a day after rescuers pulled out the carcass of his goat from the area where he was last seen.

According to Tagum City Fire Marshal, Chief Inspector Ezekiel Tabon, said both Novio’s family and responders believed that his body would be recovered after his goat was found.

"Kaya malakas ang aming loob na bumalik doon," Tabon was quoted as saying.

Authorities said the victim was reportedly tending his goat in the slope area when the powerful earthquake struck on June 8.

Rescuers said the victim’s body was buried about 15 to 20 feet deep, prompting a combined retrieval effort that used heavy equipment to clear lower sections of the site while responders and family members manually dug through the remaining soil and rubble.

"Aside from being bound by instructions to do the search and rescue and retrieval, alam din namin na merong mga subject for verification at mga report na may natabunan talaga. Maluoy mi, naga-pray g’yud mi nga makita ang lawas," Tabon added.

Novio's body was taken to the Poblacion following the retrieval, where the Municipal Health Office conducted a postmortem examination.