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Felon rescued from flooded mine shaft
The drama over the rescue of ten men at a mining shaft in northern Philippines heightened on Saturday after it was reported that a man wanted for felony in 2002 was among the survivors.
- By Artemio A. Dumlao, Correspondent
- Published: 00:02 October 5, 2008
Itogon, Benguet: The drama over the rescue of ten men at a mining shaft in northern Philippines heightened on Saturday after it was reported that a man wanted for felony in 2002 was among the survivors.
Joseph Anayasan was immediately whisked away by his relatives to evade police, who have a standing warrant for his arrest on theft and robbery charges, said George Baywong, a Mines and Geosciences Bureau officer who supervised the rescue efforts.
Anayasan, who cheated death recently after spending 11 days trapped inside the collapsed mine shaft, will be made to account for a crime he allegedly committed in 2002. Authorities said that due to humanitarian considerations, they will wait for Anayasan to get a medical clearance before serving him a warrant for his arrest.
Anayasan, 32, was the last of the 10 survivors of the mine tragedy in Itogon where six others were trapped days inside the stinking and dark abandoned tunnel.
Charges of violence
Anayasan is allegedly facing trial before branch six of the Regional Trial Court in Baguio City for two counts of robbery with violence raps in 2002.
The Mines and Geosciences Bureau reported that Anayasan was rescued from the 264 vein in level 700 of the abandoned mining tunnel on Friday afternoon and was initially checked at the makeshift treatment facility in Itogon at exactly 4:30pm that afternoon.
Many of Anayasan's relatives had also become elusive to journalists - a complete turn-around from last Wednesday when they turned out in force at the Baguio General Hospital and Medical Centre's emergency room where his elder brother Mario was rushed after being rescued at shaft 114 also in level 700.
Anayasan was reportedly brought by relatives to an undisclosed hospital after local miners took over the last-ditch rescue operation Friday when the authorities officially terminated the rescue operations Thursday night.
Identified
With the confirmation that Joseph Anayasan is still alive, officials have placed the final death toll in the mine accident at six.
The fatalities were identified as Marvin Himmayod, Juan Himmayod, Rudy Himmayod, Vincent Himmayod, Jojo Himmayod and Joel Bulga.
Rescued earlier at separate dates were Gilbert Nattem, Rudy Boling Jr, Mario Anayasan, Ngitit Pagulayan, Jose Panio Jr, Jerry Monyobda, Jason Himmayod, Robert Buhway, and Gary Gano.
Only Jason Himmayod and Vincent Buhway are still at the Baguio General Hospital and Medical Centre for further treatment.
- With inputs from AP
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