LANDSLIDE RESCUE MISSION
US soldiers land in Leyte
By Volt Contreras, Inquirer
ST. BERNARD, Southern Leyte -- Only three months ago, their image took a beating in street protests, public forums and congressional hearings after four of their men were accused of raping a Filipino woman at the Subic Bay Freeport.
But controversy took a backseat yesterday as American soldiers taking part in the "Balikatan" exercises began arriving here to take part in rescue and relief efforts for victims of a landslide that buried an entire village.
The humanitarian contingent was mainly from the US 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit based in Okinawa, where the rape suspects were also stationed prior to being held under US Embassy custody to face trial.
Thunderous Hilo helicopters landing near an evacuation center announced the presence of the US military volunteers in this grief-stricken town.
At least 15 US soldiers were seen setting up a command post at the municipal hall grounds.
Another group of officers, including a Filipino-American chaplain, surveyed the disaster site.
Second Lieutenant Edward Rushing said his initial assessment showed that up to 75 US servicemen could be deployed to assist local rescuers.
Up to 1,000 of the 6,000 US troops taking part in the Balikatan exercises can be tapped to work here, said Lieutenant Colonel Don Biadog, a chaplain of the brigade.
"I also did rescue operations in the 9-11 attacks but this is something else," said Biadog, a Filipino-American originally from Bacolod City. "What I saw was mind-boggling and horrendous. I've never seen anything like this."
"I especially feel bad about the kids," said Biadog, referring to the more than 200 children feared buried in a local school.
Visibly more organized three days after the tragedy, the rescue teams are still on a "search-and-rescue mode," said Army Major General Bonifacio Ramos, commander of the 8th Infantry Division.
They were nevertheless ready with more body bags and sacks of lime for new corpses to be found.
Amid the roar of bulldozers and choppers, Fr. Jose Labrador of the San Agustin Parish said Mass for the victims before noon
By Volt Contreras, Inquirer
ST. BERNARD, Southern Leyte -- Only three months ago, their image took a beating in street protests, public forums and congressional hearings after four of their men were accused of raping a Filipino woman at the Subic Bay Freeport.
But controversy took a backseat yesterday as American soldiers taking part in the "Balikatan" exercises began arriving here to take part in rescue and relief efforts for victims of a landslide that buried an entire village.
The humanitarian contingent was mainly from the US 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit based in Okinawa, where the rape suspects were also stationed prior to being held under US Embassy custody to face trial.
Thunderous Hilo helicopters landing near an evacuation center announced the presence of the US military volunteers in this grief-stricken town.
At least 15 US soldiers were seen setting up a command post at the municipal hall grounds.
Another group of officers, including a Filipino-American chaplain, surveyed the disaster site.
Second Lieutenant Edward Rushing said his initial assessment showed that up to 75 US servicemen could be deployed to assist local rescuers.
Up to 1,000 of the 6,000 US troops taking part in the Balikatan exercises can be tapped to work here, said Lieutenant Colonel Don Biadog, a chaplain of the brigade.
"I also did rescue operations in the 9-11 attacks but this is something else," said Biadog, a Filipino-American originally from Bacolod City. "What I saw was mind-boggling and horrendous. I've never seen anything like this."
"I especially feel bad about the kids," said Biadog, referring to the more than 200 children feared buried in a local school.
Visibly more organized three days after the tragedy, the rescue teams are still on a "search-and-rescue mode," said Army Major General Bonifacio Ramos, commander of the 8th Infantry Division.
They were nevertheless ready with more body bags and sacks of lime for new corpses to be found.
Amid the roar of bulldozers and choppers, Fr. Jose Labrador of the San Agustin Parish said Mass for the victims before noon
posted by OlongapoCity Zambales at
9:40 AM
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