Search still ongoing for 4 landfill workers

MANILA, Philippines - The search for four missing landfill employees believed buried in Friday’s trash slide in Rodriguez, Rizal continued yesterday even as rescuers expressed fear the search would soon turn into a retrieval operation.

Rizal police director Senior Superintendent Rolando Anduyan said the search and rescue units were looking for backhoe operator Gary Balahibo and his companions Pablito Esto, Eddie Malano and Rovidico Olod.

But Anduyan said the chances of survival for the missing landfill workers are getting slimmer as they have been buried for at least 48 hours already.

He said some rescue groups, including a team from Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA), have withdrawn from the area as the stench was too much to bear.

The police official said only four air-conditioned backhoes provided by International Swims Inc. remained to continue with the search operation.