The Examiner Philippines

The gruesome killings in Maguindanao constitute a most heinous crime. What makes it particularly so is the fact that it counts among its victims, lawyers, media reporters, and other defenseless and innocent civilians. Like many others. I am appalled and outraged by it, and I join the rising chorus of indignation against it.

This is not a simple election feud between opposing clans; this is a supreme act of inhumanity that is blight on our nation.

Elections are supposed to be civil and decent contests for political leadership at different levels of government. They are supposed to be avenues for political renewal in a democratic order. But when they are marred by violence, they mutate into occasions for demonstrating brute power, unrestrained by civility.

I deeply commiserate with the kith and kin of the victims. I grieve the irretrievable loss of innocent lives. That loss, unbearable as it is, should now move us to fight those forces that thrive in violence and erode the integrity of elections in our country.

The perpetrators will not escape justice. The law will haunt them until they are caught.

No citizen of our nation should ever have to fear for his or her life in the free expression of political will. That these victims were brutally struck down while merely exercising their right to political freedom must be condemned by people everywhere.

I understand only too well the volatility of the political situation in the area, and for this reason, I reiterate with even greater urgency my personal appeal for calm and restraint.

I am declaring a national day of mourning in honor of the victims. This crime is too outrageous not to prick the conscience of this nation or any other nation for that matter. Let us hope that the outrage is overcome by reason and by our need to live our lives in peace, honor and human dignity.

On my instructions, the Secretaries of the Department of Interior and Local Government and the Department of Justice are now in the area to directly lead in the immediate resolution of this case.

Be assured that our police and military forces are actively restoring normalcy in the area, and the national prosecution offices under the Justice Department are undertaking all the appropriate processes for the expeditious resolution of this crime.

In all this, the rule of law, the guarantee of equal protection under and equal application of the law, and the observance of due process and all legal processes, shall prevail. Let the full force of the law bear upon those who are found to be responsible for this offense and be made accountable for their acts.

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List of Journalists dead in the Maguindanao Massacre last Monday, November 23, 2009:
(only confirmed identities)

1. Ian Subang, Socsargen Today, General Santos City
2. Lea Dalmacio, Socsargen News, General Santos City
3. Gina De la Cruz, Saksi News, General Santos City
4. Maritess Cablitas, News Focus, General Santos City
5. Rosell Morales, News Focus, General Santos City
6. Henry Araneta, Radio DZRH, General Santos City
7. Neneng Montaño, Saksi News, General Santos City
8. Alejandro “Bong” Reblando, Manila Bulletin, General Santos City
9. Victor Nuñez, UNTV, General Santos City
10. Mark Gilbert “Mac-Mac” Arriola, General Santos City
11. Bal Cachuela, Punto News, Koronadal City
12. Ernesto “Bart” Maravilla, Bombo Radyo, Koronadal City
13. Ronie Perante, Gold Star Daily correspondent, Koronadal City
14. Joel Parcon, Prontiera News, Koronadal City
15. Jun Legarte, Prontiera News, Koronadal City
16. Rey Merisco, Periodico Ini, Koronadal City
17. John Caniban, Periodico Ini, Koronadal City
18. Arturo Betia, Periodico Ini, Koronadal City
19. Noel Decena, Periodico Ini, Koronadal City
20. Rani Razon, Periodico Ini, Koronadal City
21. Jhoy Duhay, Gold Star Daily, Tacurong City
22. Andy Teodoro, Central Mindanao Inquirer, Tacurong City
23. Jimmy Cabilo, Midland Review, Tacurong City
24. Reynaldo “Bebot” Momay, Midland Review, Tacurong City
25. Napoleon Salaysay, Mindanao Gazette, Cotabato City
26. Jun Gatchalian, Davao City
27. Lindo Lupogan, Davao City

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MANILA, Philippines (ABS-CBN News Online) - Andal Ampatuan Jr., prime suspect in the brutal election-related murders of 57 people in Maguindanao last Monday, maintained his innocence Thursday and placed the blame on a "rogue" Moro commander being chased by Philippine authorities.

Ampatuan Jr., who is currently the mayor of Datu Unsay town in Maguindanao province, is now being held at the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) headquarters in Manila.

In an interview by RPN News while in detention at the NBI, Ampatuan pointed to Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) Commander Umbra Kato as the possible mastermind of the Maguindanao massacre.

"Wala po akong kasalanan. Kaya pumunta po ako dito para ipakita po sa inyo, hindi ako nagtatago at wala akong kasalanan, [o] alam sa ibinibintang sa akin," Ampatuan said.

He denied that he is the mastermind of the atrocity.

"Napakadaling sabihin ang ganoon [that he is the mastermind]. Pero dapat may ebidensiya sila. Wala po akong kinalaman doon. Wala po akong kaalam-alam," Ampatuan said.

"Ang MILF po, alam natin terorista, lalo na po sa pamumuno ni Umbra Kato. terorista po sila," he said.

He also denied that he was at the scene of the crime, saying he was at the Datu Unsay municipal hall at the time of the massacre.

"Wala po ako [noong] time na 'yon, nasa munisipyo po ako," Andal Jr. said.

The military is pursuing Umbra Kato and his men for allegedly carrying out attacks in several villages in North Cotabato in 2008. The attacks sent thousands fleeing their homes and left scores of people dead. The attacks came after the Supreme Court (SC) prevented the signing of the Memorandum of Agreement on Ancestral Domain between the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front in August 2008. The MILF leadership however has denied the military’s allegations.

7 counts of multiple murder

The plane carrying him and a group of government officials, led by Presidential Adviser for Mindanao Affairs Jesus Dureza and Justice Secretary Agnes Devanadera, landed at the Villamor Air Base at past 7 Thursday evening.

Ampatuan's hands were not handcuffed, which is the standard operating procedure for suspects accused with heinous crimes. HE was restrained however by 2 NBI agents.

Seven counts of multiple murder charges are set to be filed against Ampatuan Jr. by the Department of Justice on Friday (November 27).

Chief State Prosecutor Jovencito Zuño said he has instructed prosecutors in Maguindanao to file the case by Friday in Cotabato City.

The DOJ has created a prosecution panel for the case. Senior State Prosecutor Leo Dacera will lead the group.

At the same time though, the DOJ will be making a request to the SC to have the case transferred.

The motion to the SC will seek the transfer of the trial venue from General Santos City to Manila, to ensure that security is guaranteed to all parties and witnesses who will appear in the court hearing.

Devanadera said they are still working on evidence against other suspects, but she did not disclose how many.

She also said they have 17 other sworn statements from other witnesses including the Mangudadatus.

When asked whether technicalities might be raised because the crime happened Monday, Zuño said no, arguing they are still in hot pursuit so they are still covered by the allowable period.

From Maguindanao to Manila

To transfer Ampatuan from General Santos City to Manila, the DOJ immediately conducted an inquest on the mayor at General Santos City’s Awang airport. It was conducted after Ampatuan Jr. was flown in by Dureza in a helicopter from Maguindanao’s capital town Shariff Aguak.

The inquest is the summary proceeding that enables the prosecutors, to directly bring the charges directly to court, in lieu of a long preliminary investigation.

Buluan Vice Mayor Esmael Mangudadatu was also present at the airport, to swear in his affidavit of complaint.

Since the massacre Monday, it was the first time the bitter rivals met.

Tension ensued as Mangudadatu pointed his finger at Ampatuan.

He was about to confront the man who allegedly killed his wife and relatives, when the people around him prevailed upon him to calm down.

Not enough, says Mangudadatus

The Mangudadatus, who buried on Thursday family members slain in the bloody incident, said they are not satisfied with just Andal Ampatuan Jr.s surrender.

"Hindi isang Ampatuan lang ang sangkot diyan, kaya hindi pa sapat ‘yang paglantad ni Unsay dahil sa dami ng biktima," Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao Assemblyman Khadaffy Mangudadatu said.

They asserted, more members of the Ampatuan clan were involved in the murders.

Interior Secretary Ronaldo Puno has recommended that all local officials in Maguindanao, including other members of the Ampatuan clan, be suspended, amid suspicion they were also involved in the crime.

Puno admitted, provincial police are also at fault.

"Nakalimutan na nila na ang dapat nilang ipagtanggol ay ang Republika ng Pilipinas, hindi ang mga ninong-ninongan nila sa lugar na ‘yon," Puno said in a press conference at Camp Crame.

Aside from Ampatuan, 4 policemen who were allegedly in the area when the massacre occurred, are now under arrest.

Initial investigations showed, the mass killings were planned.

"Ang plano siguro nila i-cover up at ilibing lahat para mawalan. Iyon ang unang unang theory,” Philippine National Police chief Director-General Jesus Verzosa said.

"Everything was planned... talagang alam nila na gagawin nila ito," Puno added.

Puno will ask Congress and the Commission on Elections to scrap the law allowing local government officials to choose police officers in their areas.

Puno believes, this will prevent local officials from abusing their powers.

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AMPATUAN, MAGUINDANAO (The Examiner Philippines) - 52 bodies were found in the site of massacre in Ampatuan, Maguindanao province in Mindanao island, according to Chief Superintendent Felicisimo Khu, head of the Task Force Alpha, who leads the said task force for the retrieval operations of the victims, and also to find the mastermind in the said incident.

The wife of Esmael Mangudadatu, Jenalyn, was asked to go to the nearest office of the Commission on Elections (ComElec) to file the Certificate of Candidacy (CoC) of Esmael, running as Governor of Maguindanao province.

According to him, they have already received threats allegedly from the allies of Governor Andal Ampatuan of Maguindanao province. That's why he decided to let the women on his family to go together with the journalists covering the event. But, his decision was wrong, as the private armies did not spare the women inside the convoy of vehicles, going to Cotabato.

Also, a construction vehicle (backhoe) of the Provincial Government of Maguindanao was involved in the incident, which the two clans (Ampatuan and Mangudadatu) denied in usage with.

Meanwhile, Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo declared a national day of mourning Wednesday morning. "There is an urgent need to prevent and suppress the occurrence of several other incidents of lawless violence," Arroyo said in the proclamation, according to Press Secretary Cerge Remonde.

UPDATE: The United Nations released a statement regarding the topic, and as read:

The Secretary-General is saddened by the reports of the brutal killing of more
than 40 civilians in the Maguindanao province, Southern Philippines. He condemns
this heinous crime committed in the context of a local election campaign. The
Secretary-General extends heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims
and hopes that no effort will be spared to bring justice and to hold the
perpetrators accountable.

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ZAMBOANGA CITY (GMANews.Tv) - More security forces have been deployed in the Zamboanga Peninsula and Lanao provinces in southern Philippines to locate abducted Irish priest Michael Sinnott, who the government believes is in the hands of the secessionist Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).

Police Senior Superintendent Francisco Cristobal, commander of Task Force Zebra, said police operatives have been deployed to patrol the coastal areas of Zamboanga Peninsula.

Additional forces from the Philippine National Police’s Region 9 office have also been positioned to augment Task Force Sinnott in the region, according to Cristobal.

In Zamboanga Sibugay, police operatives have been mobilized to man entry and exit points in the towns of Tungawan, Olutanga, and Payao.

“All the Sinnott task groups are already in full operation," Cristobal said.

In Lanao del Norte, a company from the 10th Regional Mobile Group was mobilized by Chief Superintendent Nicanor Bartolome to augment troops from the Philippine Army’s 103rd and 104th Brigades.

Coordination with MILF

In Malacañang, Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita confirmed the deployment of additional police and military personnel but said the MILF, which has denied involvement in the kidnapping case, has been informed of this.

“The police and military are in the area and of course as much as possible they are coordinating with the elements of the MILF," said Ermita.

“They (MILF) are not preventing us from deploying our own forces to follow the leads of our intelligence reports as to the probable whereabouts of Michael Sinnott," he added.

He said the security forces have been ordered to conduct pursuit operations against the perpetrators.

The government and the MILF have been on ceasefire since July in preparation for the resumption of the peace negotiations.

Innocent commander

The MILF had earlier deployed its own men to rescue Sinnott.

On Tuesday, Interior and Local Government Secretary Ronaldo Puno said Sinnott is in the hands of the MILF’s 113th Base Command under one Aloy Al Asree.

MILF chief negotiator Mohagher Iqbal denied this, saying the 113th Base Command is the unit ordered by the organization’s leadership to assist in locating Sinnott.

“He (Asree) was tasked by the MILF to work on the ground to free Father Sinnott . They have destroyed the credibility of our commander on the ground," said Iqbal.

Sinnott, 79, was abducted last October 11 in Pagadian City, Zamboanga del Sur. In a video obtained by the military and aired over GMA News over the weekend, the priest said his abductors are asking for a $2-million ransom in exchange for his freedom.

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MANILA, Philippines (ABS-CBN News Online/Agence France-Presse) - President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo signed on Friday the "Climate Change Act of 2009," a landmark bill that will institutionalize government response to climate change.

Palace adviser on climate change Heherson Alvarez said the law will mainstream climate change mitigation and adaptation into government policy from the national government down to the barangays.

Alvarez added the government will push a "national climate change action plan," including the voluntary reduction of local carbon emissions, and disaster risk reduction.

The new law likewise calls for the creation of a climate change commission.

Mrs. Arroyo signed the law just before she leaving for Thailand Friday to attend the ASEAN Summit where climate change is expected to be discussed.

Adaptation fund

The Palace on Wednesday said President Arroyo will push for the creation of an ASEAN adaptation fund that would be tapped by ASEAN member-states during times of calamity.

Albay Governor and Arroyo's economic adviser Joey Salceda first broached the creation of a $5 billion adaptation fund, which he likened to the ASEAN+3 Chiang Mai Initiative.

The Chiang Mai Initiative is a network of bilateral swap arrangements among ASEAN+3 countries that would allow members to manage regional short-term liquidity problems and facilitate the work of other international financial arrangements and organizations such as the International Monetary Fund.

Under Salceda's proposal, ASEAN member-states ravaged by calamities caused by climate change would tap the adaptation fund for its rehabilitation initiatives.

Salceda said twin typhoons Ondoy (Ketsana) and Pepeng (Parma), among other calamities, could affect as much as 0.61 percent of the gross domestic product, which is higher than the 0.15 percent estimated effect of climate change on the GDP.

Salceda recently called for a National Conference on Climate Change Adaptation on October 26-27 and invited stakeholders to discuss best practices in fighting climate change.

ASEAN's call on climate change

ASEAN leaders are to urge developed nations to make deeper cuts in carbon emissions, underscoring the rift between rich and poor countries on climate measures. .

In a draft joint statement seen by Agence France-Presse, heads of state from the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) said rich countries had a "historical responsibility" to act as well as the economic power to do so.

The document, to be endorsed at a summit that begins Friday in the Thai resort of Hua Hin, pledges support for a December meeting in Copenhagen at which 192 countries will attempt to hammer out a new global climate treaty.

The ASEAN statement urges industrialised countries "to take the lead" in emissions and make "deeper and early cuts on their greenhouse gas emissions to enhance implementation of their commitments".

It also says rich nations should "not negatively affect the sustainable economic and social development of developing countries" through their unilateral policies and "market-based mechanisms" to address climate change.

Recent negotiations in Bangkok to thrash out a draft of the global pact exposed the huge divide between rich and poor nations.

Developed economies have acknowledged a historical responsibility for global warming and most have put numbers on the table for slashing their carbon pollution by 2020 and by 2050.

But they say developing nations should also pledge to curb their output of greenhouse gases.

Poor and emerging economies have largely refused to set their own hard targets and many call for rich nations to make deeper cuts.

The ASEAN statement also calls for support for developing nations in dealing with the impact of climate change, which is high on the agenda after a recent spate of deadly natural disasters in the region.

Hundreds of people were killed and millions affected when Typhoon Ketsana tore through the Philippines, Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos, causing massive flooding.

ASEAN groups Indonesia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, Laos, Brunei, Cambodia, Myanmar and Malaysia.

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MAKATI CITY, Philippines (The Examiner Philippines) - An unidentified number of gunmen had robbed a luxury watch store at the premises of Greenbelt 5 mall in Makati, before noon.

The store that was robbed was a Rolex store, according to news organization ABS-CBN News.

Also, in an interview with GMA Network's radio dzBB, PO3 Romulo Molen said that sketchy reports reaching him said that members of the Makati Police were chasing suspected robbers after a rob try in an undisclosed establishment inside the mall.

dzMM reports that a closed-circuit television showed that 11 suspects, one of whom was a woman, were involved in the robbery. Six of them served as lookouts on the second floor while the rest stole the expensive watches.

The suspects were reportedly wearing masks together with bomb squad uniforms.

Greenbelt 5 has been cordoned off as police began scouring the area for the suspects, as reported by dzMM.

Some of the stores that closed during the shootout immediately reopened after the incident. The mall was cordoned by the Southern District PNP, which covers the area. And officials of Ayala, the owner of Greenbelt malls, have been doing efforts to restore the situation to normal.

In 2007, Ayala's malls was one involved in an incident when an explosion happened at Glorietta 2 on October 19.

UPDATE: As of 4:38PM, in a newsflash by ABS-CBN News Online, the mall was still closed and clearing operations are currently ongoing.

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MANILA, Philippines (ABS-CBN News Online) - Typhoon Ramil (international codename Lupit) slowed down Saturday as it continued to move towards the general direction of Northern and Central Luzon, said the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA).

As of 2 a.m., the storm was sighted 850 kilometers east of Virac, Catanduanes, packing maximum sustained winds of 120 kilometers per hour and gusts of up to 150 kph.

It was moving west northwest towards Northern and Central Luzon, both devastated by twin storms Ondoy (Ketsana) and Pepeng (Parma).

The typhoon has significantly decreased speed overnight from 30 kilometers per hour to 20 kph.

Nathaniel Cruz, PAGASA's weather bureau chief, said Ramil slowing down is a "bad thing" because it would give the typhoon more time to gather strength while crossing Philippine waters.

"While it is slowing down, it will further intensify in the next several hours and several days before hitting land, if it hits land," Cruz said.

He said the typhoon's strength will be felt in northern provinces by late Monday or Tuesday. He said provinces that have been hit by Pepeng in the north should prepare for "lots of rains and strong winds" from Ramil.

He added that based on the typhoons speed and current course, its winds and rains will be hardly felt in Bicol provinces and provinces along the eastern seaboard of Luzon, including Quezon, Aurora and Cagayan.

Cruz also said that Cordillera Administrative Region should expect more landslides during the typhoon's onslaught. He added that since water level in dams were already high, provinces flooded by the two previous storms should also prepare for possible flashfloods.

Storm Pepeng has killed more than 400 people in the northern provinces of Luzon, with majority of deaths caused by landslides in the Cordilleras.

The National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) said Pepeng and Ondoy's combined death toll has reached 773. Ondoy's death toll was 354, with majority of deaths caused by flashfloods in Rizal, Marikina and Quezon City.

Supertyphoon Ramil

Cruz had said that Ramil can reach the supertyphoon intensity before making landfall.

"It can reach almost the supertyphoon intensity before hitting land, if and when there will be no change in its course, direction and speed," Cruz said in an interview over ANC television.

Press Secretary Cerge Remonde said the National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) has pre-positioned equipment needed for rescue operations as well as relief goods to areas that the storm was expected to hit.

Remonde said he expects dam operators to have learned the lessons left by Ondoy and Pepeng by releasing water even before the new storm hits. Local officials in Pangasinan earlier accused dam operators in Northern Luzon of aggravating floods during the height of Pepeng's onslaught.

As of 6 a.m. Saturday, seven out of 10 major dams in Luzon were still releasing water in anticipation of the new storm. These are the Angat and Ipo Dams in Bulacan, Ambuklao and Binga Dams in Benguet, San Roque Dam in Pangasinan, Pantabangan Dam in Nueva Ecija and Magat Dam in Isabela.

The La Mesa Dam in Quezon City and Caliraya Dam in Laguna remain closed.

PAGASA's dam monitoring report said 2 gates of Angat were releasing 400 cubic meters of water per second; Ipo dam releasing water at 412 cms; Ambuklao 133 cms with 3 gates open; Binga 224 cms with 2 gates open, San Roque 623 with 2 gates open; Pantabangan 220 cms with 1 gate open and Magat 628 cms with 2 gates open.

Preparing for Ramil

Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro, concurrent head of the NDCC, on Saturday flew to Sorsogon province in Bicol to meet officials of local disaster coordinating units.

Teodoro said Malacañang has cancelled a scheduled "relief caravan" for Monday. He said relief trucks and other equipment to be used in the caravan will be diverted to the prepositioning of relief goods to areas that may be hit by the typhoon.

Benguet Governor Nestor Fongwan, meanwhile, said teams have been alerted for emergency evacuations in case the typhoon affects the province.

Pangasinan Governor Amado Espino, meanwhile, said they are now closely monitoring the release of water from the San Roque dam.

Espino said several areas in the municipalities of Bautista, Alcala, Bayambang, Camiling, Moncada were still submerged in house-deep floods.

The governor said residents in the flooded areas were currently housed in temporary evacuation centers, and they have prepared more secured shelters in case Ramil hits the province.

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DAGUPAN CITY, Pangasinan (ABS-CBN News Online) - More than 3,000 residents lost their homes in Dagupan City, Pangasinan this week after floodwaters inundated all 31 barangays in the city in the wake of tropical depression Pepeng (international codename Parma).

Disaster officials said the entire city was flooded after water was released from the San Roque Dam.

Aside from Dagupan, other municipalities affected by the opened dam were the municipalities of Rosales, Bautista, Bayambang, Alcala, Sto. Tomas, Uzbitondo, San Carlos City, Lingayen, San Manuel, Tayug, Asingan, Natividad and Sta. Maria.

Three dikes collapsed in the areas of Bacnono, Sison and near Agno River, and a total of 10 dikes were reported damaged.

In scenes reminiscent of tropical storm Ondoy's (Ketsana) onslaught in Metro Manila, panicked residents fled to their rooftops as floodwaters inundated their homes.

Aerial footage taken in Pangasinan as of Friday afternoon showed some families still staying on their rooftops while awaiting rescue.

Lola Virginia was shivering with hunger and cold when rescuers found her Friday morning. In an interview, she said she was barely able to climb the roof when the flood hit her house.

"The water suddenly got higher. We couldn't go up quickly enough. I wasn't able to save anything," she told ABS-CBN.

Another resident cried as she pointed to her house while it was being swept away by the flood.

Floods to let up soon?

Officials said there are no signs that the floods would go down anytime soon. Electrical service has yet to be restored while business establishments and restaurants remain closed as of Friday.

Residents are queueing up to take a bus trip to 18 evacuation centers in the city, the largest of which is the Dagupan Astrodome.

"While there have been zero casualties, the evacuation centers are really filling up with evacuees," Mayor Al Fernandez said.

In Rosales, Pangasinan, 30 out of 37 villages were submerged in murky floodwaters after days of incessant rain brought by "Pepeng."

Most residents in the flooded barangays evacuated to government shelters early even before the floods hit. The town's municipal hall has become a virtual island as all roads leading to the town center have been flooded.

Officials said the floods swept away houses and vehicles and even inundated the first floor of a large mall where some 1,000 residents have evacuated.

Philippine Coast Guard officials are currently focused on evacuating residents still trapped on the roofs of their houses.

Some residents admitted that they were informed beforehand to leave their homes because of the possibility of a flood.

"Yes, we were told that there would be flood but we didn't know that they would be opening the dams," Reynaldo David, a resident of Rosales, said.

Local authorities expressed concern that the sudden rush of evacuees could stretch their limits in terms of relief goods. According to the Municipal Planning and Development Office, the focus is still on rescuing residents affected by the floods.

Flooding in Rosales, Pangasinan

In Rosales municipality in Pangasinan, many families are stuck in the second floors or on rooftops of their houses or were forced to leave for evacuation centers amid floods triggered by tropical depression Pepeng (international code name Parma).

Sections of Rosales were submerged in flood-waters from 3 to 10 feet high, according to various reports by residents in the area.

Even if the rain has stopped, residents reportedly fear another deluge.

In Poblacion town, for example, 11 families - including young children and babies - had to troop to the second floor of their boarding house for fear that the knee-deep floods in their baranggay would rise.

Engr. Avelino Magno, who occupies the house's second floor, said the families have been stuck there since 11 p.m. on Thursday.

"Boarders kasi silang lahat, nag-akyatan sila dito. Natakot sila [dahil] mabilis ang pagtaas ng tubig," he said in an interview with ABS-CBN News.

(These families are boarders and they all went upstairs. They were scared because the water rose so fast.)

Geraldine Dimaali, one of the boarding house residents, said they were able to save their things before they rushed to the upper floor. She said the waters almost reached the second floor on Thursday evening.

"Noong dito na kami sa taas, nakapatong gamit namin. Hindi namin nalaman, inaabot na rin pala [ang gamit]. Wala pang kuryente. Siyempre nag-iiyakan kami. Kung inabot pa dito sa taas, saan kami pupunta?" she said.

(When we were upstairs, we put our things down. Before we realized, the water rose up, and reached our things. There is no electricty. Of course, we cried. If the water continued to rise, where would we go?)

Flood warning

Dimaali said they had to scrounge for food on Friday morning because the markets were flooded and 2 passing relief trucks had not stopped to give them supplies.

"Wala, lubog ang palengke. Kahapon may nakuha mga kasama namin na isang plastic ng kangkong at talong. Pero may bigas kami. 'Yon lang inulam namin," she said.

(The markets are flooded. Yesterday, one of us got a plastic bag with some river spinach and eggplant. We have rice. That's what we ate.)

Residents, however, reported that they were warned by town officials a day before about oncoming rains.

"Na-warning-an kami kagabi ng barangay captain. Yun lang maitutulong niya kasi sa dami ng pamilya sa baranggay namin. Kanya-kanya nalang kami ng diskarte kung paano kami maka-responde," said resident Reynaldo David.

(We were warned last night by our town captain. That's all he could do because there are so many families in our town. We were on our own on how we would respond [to the flood].)

David said his family was able to stock up on food that could last them 2 days, and wrap their clothes in plastic bags before the floods came.

"Ngayon lang umabot ng ganitong kataas. Sa baba, abot bubong ang tubig. (This is the first time that floods reached this high. In lower areas of our town, the houses were submerged)," he said.

Evacuation

Those who did not have upper floors, or who could not move to their neighbors' houses, fled to the town gym that serves as an informal evacuation center.

Francisca Zamora, one of those who took shelter at the gym, said the evacuees rely on themselves or on kindhearted neighbors for relief goods. She said the floods that hit her home was more than 6 feet high.

"Halos lahat ng gamit namin sira na. Iniwan na namin kasi kami naman ang madidisgrasya 'pag hindi kami umalis. (All our things are destroyed. We left them because we would die if we didn't leave)," she said.

Zamora, who said she was left without means to feed herself or her family, depended on dole-outs given by neighbors.

She said the evacuees were given several pieces of chicken meat to eat for lunch and dinner. They were also given some clothes to keep them warm.

Zamora added that there are no local officials who have taken charge of evacuation and relief efforts yet, and that the residents are left to their own devices.

"Walang opisyal na tumutulong ngayon. Kanya-kanyang kayod na kami. Kanya-kanyang diskarte na," she said.

As of posting, at least 30 of Pangasinan's towns were reported flooded. Pangasinan Governor Amado Espino Jr. said that as of 2 a.m. Friday, there were already 30,000 people in evacuation centers in higher areas of the province.

The National Disaster Coordinating Council earlier warned local officials about swelling rivers and advised people to flee to higher ground.

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