Heroes emerge in wake of super typhoon’s wrath

By Dexter A. See and Mar T. Supnad

All’s not bad about the onslaught of typhoon “Pepeng.”

While the typhoon left hundreds dead and a trail of destruction it nevertheless, brought out the best from some individuals.

In Benguet, the municipal government of La Trinidad and the Bureau of Fire Protection paid their last respect to the three firemen and a barangay kagawad who lost their lives while trying to save the lives of dozens of individuals who were trapped in a landslide at Poblacion, Buyagan at the height Pepeng last week.

In Pangasinan, a young police chief and his men as well as two boys who helped them were lauded for risking their life and limbs to save others from the wrath of Pepeng.

The municipal council of La Trinidad has passed a resolution commending the heroism displayed by Senior Fire Officer 2 Richard Balusdan, SFO2 Sigfred Ngoloban, FO2 Benedict Tumayan, and barangay kagawad Rex Mang-oy, a retired fireman, for risking their lives during the rescue operations conducted in Buyagan that saved a three-year-old child, Ivan Suarez, from death when their house was buried by a landslide at the height of Pepeng’s wrath last October 8.

Balusdan, Ngoloban, Tumayan, and Mang-oy died after they were buried by the second wave of landslide that occurred while they were rescuing the people trapped inside a house in the said barangay.

One of their colleagues, FO2 Alfredo Bustillos, was injured in the incident and is now recuperating from his injuries.

The BFP-CAR already promoted the three firemen with Balusdan and Nguluban getting their posthumous promotions to SFO3 while Tumayan was elevated to the rank of FO3.

The agency is also processing the appropriate death benefits and financial assistance to the responsible and dedicated fire officers who died in the performance of their duties and responsibilities, especially in responding to emergency cases such as natural calamities.

The local government said the heroism displayed by the four rescuers who died in line of duty is worth remembering and will be treasured by generations to come, citing that their risking of their lives to save others from danger is a worthy trait to be emulated by today’s youth.

However, relatives of the fatalities are now seeking assistance from kind-hearted individuals in order to help them cope with the loss of the breadwinner of their respective families, saying they are proud of what the slain rescuers have done to save the lives of the trapped landslide victims.

Prior to being trapped in the Buyagan landslides, the concerned rescuers have also saved dozens of lives in the Little Kibungan mudslide where over 109 individuals lost their lives.

In Pangasinan, the heroic act showed by Inspector Ryan Manongdo, acting chief of police of San Jacinto, caught the attention local folk as well as the PNP hierarchy.

As Pepeng struck the province and the rest of Northern Luzon area, Manongdo, a graduate of the Philippine National Police Academy, did not hesitate to risk his own life and braved the murky waters, with the assistance of two boys in rescuing the people who had been swamped by rampaging floods in the area.

Armed only with his bare hands and skills that he learned from the PNPA, Manongdo took inflatable beds and saved the children and women trapped in their houses due to the sudden flashfloods.

“They could have saved more but they were too weak already from transporting people to safety. Still, they saved 130 people,” said the report, praising Manongdo for his heroic feat.

Even PNP Chief Director General Jesus A. Verzosa was impressed by the heroic act of Manongdo, his two young companions, and the hundreds of policemen who worked hand-in-hand in providing rescue mission and bring relief goods to victims of storms Ondoy and Pepeng.

“What you did was exemplary. May you and the other officers serve as role models in being selfless and courageous in the face of calamities. During those dark times, you did not think of your own but thought of your fellowmen. Your PNP is proud of you,” Verzosa pointed out after noting the laudable action of the young PNP officer.