Albay disaster execs verifying Glenda casualties

LEGAZPI CITY, Philippines – Local disaster officials are verifying information about three unreported casualties during the onslaught of Typhoon Glenda.

The report came after President Aquino, in his State of the Nation Address, lauded Gov. Joey Salceda for the success of the pre-emptive evacuation that resulted in province’s achieving zero casualty during the calamity.

Reports had it that a man allegedly died of heart attack during the height of the typhoon in Malilipot town, while two others drowned in Libon.

“We are still verifying the casualty reports until now,” said Cedric Daep, head of Albay Provincial Security and Emergency Management Office.

Daep said he is coordinating with Raffy Alejandro, director of the Office of Civil Defense, to verify the report.

“The provincial government did not claim zero casualty although President Aquino praised us during the SONA,” Daep said in a radio interview yesterday.

He said if there were indeed casualties, he wanted the relatives of the victims to submit a death certificate, a police report and a certification from the local social welfare officer so the provincial government could extend financial assistance to them.

“Until now we haven’t got a report or complaint from any of the reported victims of Typhoon Glenda,” he said.

The official said one could be considered a Glenda-related casualty when the cause of his death was due to storm surge, flooding, mudflow or winds that occurred from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. last July 15.

“We don’t want to argue over this to defend our position that we achieved zero casualty,” said Daep, comments and opinions posted on a social networking site blamed disaster officials for hiding the facts.