1 killed in Cagayan de Oro landslide - report

MANILA, Philippines - A resident was confirmed dead in a landslide in Cagayan de Oro City during the weekend, the Office of the Civil Defense (OCD) said Monday. OCD Region 10 director Carmelito Lupo disclosed this even as city Mayor Constantino Jaraula said they are checking reports that three more residents died in flash floods. "Meron kaming isang patay, identified as Mr. Artango. Namatay siya sa landslide, natabunan sa isang bahay sa Barangay Pagatpat, natabunan [We have confirmed one resident dead, Mr. Artango. He died after his house was buried in a landslide in Pagatpat village]," Lupo said in an interview on dzBB radio. Lupo also said that while floodwaters had started to subside in Cagayan de Oro City, more than 900 families remain in evacuation centers. He said these include 529 families in a covered court and 250 in a school. On the other hand, he said at least 1,412 families were evacuated from their homes in Gingoog City while 2,498 were evacuated from Misamis Oriental. In a separate interview, Mayor Jaraula blamed too much logging activities for the incident. "Noong isang linggo yan ang report ko kay Pangulong Arroyo at request ko kailangan itigil ang logging at dito sa amin [As early as one week ago I already reported this to President Arroyo and requested her to order a stop to logging in our area]," he said on dzBB radio. He also said he wants to sit down with governors of Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao and Lanao del Sur on the matter. - GMANews.TV