PGMA condoles with families of Mt. Arayat landslide victims

Manila (29 September) — President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo condoled last Sunday night with the families of those killed after tons of mud and rock cascaded down Mt. Arayat and buried their homes at the height of tropical storm Ondoy on Sept. 26.

The President, fresh from Cainta and Malabon, two of the worst hit-cities in the National Capital Region, arrived at the St. John Chapel in Barangay San Jose Bano in Arayat town to commiserate with the Dela Cruz, Portacio and Galang families, who lost loved ones in the landslide.

Appropriately clad in a black raincoat over a black dress, the President told Sammy Portacio she felt sorry that he had lost his wife Riza, 28, and their three children Sonny Boy, 8, LynLyn, 5 and Raiza, 4.

From the chapel, the President then went to see Manuel dela Cruz, who suffered the loss of his entire family.

Dela Cruz recounted to the President how he watched in horror as his mother Catalina, 86, his wife Sherly, 31, who was pregnant with their fifth child and their four children Manilyn, 12, Marlon, 11, Maryan, 10, and Mcgyver, 6, were swallowed up by the rampaging mud, rocks and debris.

Last to be visited by the President were Mario and Leonora Galang, parents of Mark, 15, and Marko, 10, who also perished in the tragedy.

Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Lorelie Fajardo said the President was devastated upon hearing the misfortune that befell her cabalen.

She said the President instructed the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, the Philippine National Police and the local government units to investigate the cause of the landslide and to present their findings to her immediately.

The President gave each family two checks amounting to P15,000 for each loved one lost: P10,000 from the National Disaster Coordinating Council and P5,000 from the Department of Social Welfare and Development.

Pampanga Rep. Dong Gonzales also donated P5,000 for each victim.

After viewing each casket, the President left for the nearby barangays of Sto. Niño, San Miguel, and San Agustin, all in the municipality of San Simon, Pampanga, to distribute food bags to residents.

Each bag, contained P250, worth of canned goods, rice, noodles, coffee and sugar. (PIA)