Army officer dies in road mishap caused by landslide

MANILA, Philippines  — A young female military officer will no longer be able to distribute the gifts she bought for poor communities in her area as she died in a road mishap caused by a landslide on Wednesday in Infanta, Quezon.

1Lt. Xy-Zon Meneses, spokesman of the Army's 2nd division, identified the fatality as 2Lt. Michelle Mae Delariarte, civil-military operations officer of the 1st Infantry Battalion. Three other soldiers were also hurt during the incident namely 1Lt. Sarah Jane Bagasol, Pfc. Cheryl Ramirez and the driver Cpl. Renato Villanueva.

The landslide, which happened before midnight of Wednesday, was caused by rains spawned by Typhoon Nona.

"The said officers and enlisted personnel came from Manila wherein they bought supplies and other items for their gift-giving activity to the less privileged individuals in their area as part of their unit's Christmas Celebration," Meneses said in a statement.

Col. Rodel Alarcon, chief of the Army's 202nd Brigade, said the soldiers were on board an Isuzu Crosswind when the tragic incident happened.

"They stopped because there was a landslide in front of them. Lt. Deliarte called her commander because their battalion commander was asking about their whereabouts," Alarcon said.

Deliarte then informed her commander, Lt. Col. Christopher Tampus of the 1st Infantry Battalion, that they cannot cross the other side because of the landslide.

"The battalion commander said he would send a bigger vehicle to fetch them. After several minutes, the landslide happened," Alarcon said.

The driver reportedly tried to avoid the affected area but the vehicle was still hit by the landslide causing it to roll. Deliarte sustained head injuries during the incident.

The wounded soldiers were brought to the Claro M. Recto Hospital in Barangay Tongohin in Infanta town while the remains of Delariarte were brought to St. Peter Funeral Homes.

Meneses said the 1st Infantry Battalion is now preparing the assistance to be extended to the bereaved family of Delariarte.