CDO backs out of mass burial of 'Sendong' fatalities for now, but not Iligan

One of two cities considering a mass burial for residents who died in the wake of floods brought by tropical storm "Sendong" (Washi) has shelved the idea, at least for now.

 

Cagayan de Oro City Mayor Vicente Emano on Tuesday cited "legal implications" that prompted him to back out of the mass burial plan at this time.

 

"Because of the legal implications, I have decided huwag muna. Tapusin namin [ang processing]. We'll just follow the law (Because of the legal implications to the mass burial, I have decided not to push through with the mass burial for now. Instead, we will finish processing the fatalities)," he said in an interview on dzBB radio.

 

He said that while the families of the dead had posed no objection, he was told he may face charges if he had the bodies buried before the bodies were processed for identification.

 

The process would include the taking of data such as DNA and dental records before the bodies could be buried, he said.

 

On the other hand, Iligan City said it is pushing through with its planned mass burial at 1 p.m. Tuesday, after postponing the event late Monday.

 

Cagayan de Oro and Iligan were among the areas hardest hit by floods from "Sendong" last weekend.

 

"Hindi tinuloy (kahapon) kasi medyo basa ang semento (We did not push through with the mass burial Monday because the cement used in building the graves was not yet dry)," Iligan City public information officer Melvin Anggot said in a separate interview on dzBB.

 

Anggot, however, maintained the bodies were to be buried individually as he allayed concerns of the Department of Health against dumping the bodies in just one grave.

 

Besides, he said the procedure would be supervised by a health officer.

 

He also said that out of some 120 unclaimed bodies, they would prioritize only 100 bodies that had been identified.

 

When asked if the 20 unidentified bodies would not yet be buried for now, he said, "Oo (yes)." –KG, GMA News