Volunteer rescuers have recovered the bodies of three small-scale miners who were trapped inside a tunnel in Sitio Balcony, Barangay Runruno, Quezon, after a three-day search and retrieval operation.
PIA Nueva Vizcaya reported that the victims were identified as Daniel Segundo, 47; Florencio Indopia, 63; and Lapihon Ayudan, 56 — all residents of Barangay Runruno.
According to Barangay Captain John Babliing, Segundo's body was retrieved around 11:00 p.m. on Wednesday, June 25, while the bodies of Indopia and Ayudan were recovered around midnight and early Thursday morning, June 26.
The three entered the tunnel on the night of Monday, June 23, along with Alfred Dulnuan and Joval Bantiyan, who were rescued alive on Tuesday, June 24.
Tragically, one of the volunteer rescuers, John Philip Guinihid, also lost his life after being pulled out from the tunnel on Wednesday. Guinihid entered the tunnel with his friend, Johnny Ayudan, on Tuesday night to retrieve the body of Johnny’s brother, Lapihon Ayudan.
Pastor Mario Dela Cruz of the Philippine Bethel Church, Inc., who also joined the rescue efforts, said the victims lost consciousness due to lack of oxygen inside the tunnel.
"Sumakit ang ulo namin at nahirapan kaming huminga sa kaloob-looban ng tunnel kaya't napakahirap ang isinagawang rescue at retrieval refforts," Dela Cruz said.
The operation was carried out by volunteer rescuers from the Runruno community, alongside personnel from the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), Philippine National Police (PNP), FCF Minerals Corp., OceanaGold Philippines, Inc., and both barangay and municipal LGUs.
