More than a thousand people have perished in Cagayan de Oro and Iligan during the flash floods that lashed northern Mindanao on the night of December 17, 2011. Many are still missing while rescuers are trying to recover some corpses seen floating in the ocean. Most of the fatalities are children, according to a report released by the National Disaster Council.
The bodies were initially underwater during the first three days but now, in their state of decomposition, they are bloated and floating on the surface.
Housed in only 62 evacuation centers in Cagayan de Oro are more than 43,000 survivors who are urgently in need of food, clothing and medicines. Except for what they were wearing during the flash floods, no one else had any spare clothing. There is dire need of clean drinking water.
Toilet facilities have also become a serious problem as people have to follow a long queue. Most evacuation centers have only one or two toilets.
To prevent the spread of disease, Cagayan de Oro Mayor Vicente Emano was compelled to order the burial of many unidentified victims in mass graves.
No Christmas furlough for Arroyo
A local court has ruled out house detention for former president Gloria Arroyo, even during the Christmas break. Judge Mupas of the Pasay City Regional Trial Court cited security reasons for not allowing Arroyo’s request. She wanted to spend the Christmas holidays in her house in La Vista, Quezon City.
The use of a cell phone and laptop computer has likewise been disallowed but members of her immediate family may visit her from December 24 up to January 2, 2012. She is also allowed to have a TV set and radio inside the hospital’s presidential suite.
The Pampanga representative may leave her hospital room for fresh air and sunlight for one hour every morning. The time can also be used to pray in the hospital chapel. The court’s decision is under appeal.
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