Fallen members of Bulacan rescue team hailed as heroes

The five rescuers who perished in flood waters in the middle of operations in Bulacan have been hailed as heroes by the province and their fellow disaster workers.

According to Mariz Umali's report on "24 Oras", the head of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council said the five were willing to sacrifice even their own lives to serve the public.

George Agustin, 45; Marvy Bartolome, 36; Narciso Calayag Jr., 33; Troy Justin Agustin, 30; and Jerson Resurecion were killed after the boat they were in was swept away by a powerful current after the wall of a nearby gas station fell.

Their bodies were recovered in a rice field by 6 a.m., four hours after they could no longer be reached by phone.

“Mga anak ko sila. Pamilya kami sa Bulacan rescue kaya napakasakit. Lima," Bulacan PDRRMO head Liz Mungcal said.

"Ang mahalaga tinaas nila ang bandila ng mga rescuers na hanggang sa huli, willing nila i-sacrifice ang mga sarili nila para sa dakilang layunin ng pagbibigay-serbisyo sa mamamayan,” she added.

(They’re my children. We are a family in Bulacan rescue that’s why it hurts. Five. But what’s important is they raised the flags of rescuers until the end and they were willing to sacrifice themselves for public service.)

“We're very proud because bayani sila sa puso namin, sa isip namin,” she added.

(We’re very proud because they are heroes in our hearts and minds.)

Governor Daniel Fernando said the provincial government honor the rescuers would extend assistance to their loved ones.

“Bibigyan ng mataas na parangal at pagtulong sa pamilya," Fernando said.

Mungcal said the rescuers' truck stalled because of the flood. They used the boat and then went to the gas station, considering that it was flat. 

The wall nearby, however, fell and their boat was sucked by a strong current.

A worker at the gasoline station said, “Bumibigay na 'yung pader na 'yan kaya nahihigop sila r'on. Derecho 'yung bangka nila."

"Akala namin walang ma-ano dito... Hiyaw kami nang hiyaw sa itaas na 'yan, wala eh. Wala na kaming marinig na tao”.

(The wall was already damaged and they were sucked in. Their boat went in straight... We thought nobody would be hurt here... We were screaming from up there but we couldn't hear anyone.) —Sundy Locus/NB, GMA News