Joint Makati, K9 team retrieves 28 bodies in Comval

MANILA, Philippines - A combined team from the Makati Rescue and the Philippine K9 Search and Rescue Foundation has so far recovered 28 bodies from New Bataan in Compostela Valley since it started its mission last December 7.

Makati City Mayor Jejomar Erwin Binay said the 10-man team is assisted by “Ira” and “Drena” two Belgian Malinois dogs that were trained in France.

Binay said that among the bodies recovered were those of a pregnant woman (estimated to be between 24-30 years old), a girl and two soldiers.

Binay said Makati has invested in the acquisition and training of search and rescue dogs.

“We are devastated by the tragedy and our dogs and the team will remain as long as they are needed,” he said.

Binay said the search and rescue dogs delivered results in actual operations, particularly in locating the bodies of victims hidden from plain sight.

Binay added that Makati would get more search dogs to be trained by Philippine K9 for deployment to disaster stricken areas whenever needed. 

In addition to the two dogs, the rescue team brought with them from Makati City two chainsaws, a vibrascope (an instrument that could detect victims trapped underneath debris and tree trunks), a vibraphone (an instrument to communicate with live trapped victims), and a hydraulic cutter or a hydraulic spreader commonly used to rescue passengers trapped in wrecked cars. - Mike Frialde