GLAN, Sarangani Province – After days of relentless search and retrieval operations, rescuers have successfully recovered the body of a 27-year-old man who was reported missing after being buried by a landslide triggered by the powerful 7.8-magnitude earthquake that struck Mindanao on June 8.
The victim, identified as Wilbert Novio, a resident of Barangay Congan, Glan, Sarangani Province, was found on the afternoon of June 18 following a four-day intensive retrieval operation conducted by a joint team from the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) Special Rescue Force and the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG).
According to authorities, Novio was tending to his goat on a mountainous slope in Barangay Congan when the massive earthquake struck, causing a landslide that engulfed him. Witnesses and neighbors recalled that Novio had shouted warnings for others to flee moments before tons of earth and debris buried him.
Rescuers discovered Novio’s body a day after locating the carcass of his goat in the same area, strengthening hopes among family members and responders that he remained buried nearby.
“Dako gyud ang pagtuo sa pamilya ug sa mga responders nga naa lang didto ang lawas ni Wilbert human among nakit-an ang iyang kanding,” said Fire Chief Inspector Ezekiel Tabon, Fire Marshal of Tagum City and leader of the search and rescue task group deployed to Glan.
The retrieval operation proved challenging due to the depth of the landslide. Rescue personnel estimated that Novio’s body was buried approximately 15 to 20 feet beneath the soil and debris. Heavy equipment was initially utilized to clear large volumes of earth before rescuers and family members manually dug through the final layers to reach the victim.
The operation involved a coordinated effort among multiple government agencies and emergency response units, including the Philippine Coast Guard, BFP Special Rescue Forces from Regions 10, 11, and 12, the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), the Caraga Region, local disaster risk reduction and management offices, and municipal emergency responders.
Tabon described the successful recovery as a testament to the province’s “whole-of-government approach” in disaster response.
“This operation demonstrates the importance of inter-agency cooperation and the dedication of all responders involved. Despite difficult terrain and conditions, everyone remained committed to bringing closure to the victim’s family,” he said.
In the aftermath of the devastating earthquake, Sarangani provincial officials activated the Incident Command System (ICS) and implemented the Management of the Dead and Missing framework on a scale never before utilized in the province. The system ensured proper handling, identification, documentation, and recovery procedures for victims affected by the disaster.
Following the retrieval, Novio’s remains were transported to the Poblacion area, where a municipal health officer conducted a postmortem examination.
The June 8 earthquake, one of the strongest to hit Mindanao in recent years, triggered landslides and caused widespread damage in several communities across southern Philippines. Barangay Congan was among the areas heavily affected by ground movement and slope failures.
For Novio’s family, the recovery of his body ended ten days of uncertainty and grief, allowing them to finally bring their loved one home and lay him to rest.
Authorities continue to monitor landslide-prone areas in Sarangani and neighboring provinces as aftershocks and unstable terrain remain a concern following the powerful quake.