BY DOMINIQUE GABRIEL BAÑAGA
BACOLOD City – A retired cop who was previously reported as having been rescued turned out to have died; his body was found off the coast of Hinobaan, Negros Occidental, the local government clarified.
Eric Tenerife, consultant to Hinoba-an mayor Ernesto Estrao, said retired Police Chief Master Sergeant Dakie Dacuscus previously served as a security aide to Estrao.
On Wednesday, it was reported that Dacuscus was rescued from floodwaters with his wife, now identified as Jessybel.
However, it turned out that the man who was rescued with Jessybel was not her husband but a certain “Jacky”.
At the time of the flooding, at least five people were reported to have gone missing and included the Dacuscus couple whose pickup truck was swept away by floodwaters.
The pickup truck was later found along the coast, completely mangled.
Authorities already rescued all of the missing individuals.
Earlier between Wednesday evening and Thursday morning, Hinoba-an was battered by heavy rains caused by Tropical Storm “Dante” along with several other towns and cities in Negros Occidental.
The rains triggered a flashflood in the municipality, forcing some of the town’s residents to flee their homes and seek shelter on higher ground.
Based on data released by the Negros Occidental Provincial Disaster Management Program Division (PDMPD), a total of 185 families or 520 persons were affected in 17 barangays and 17 evacuation centers in the municipalities of Hinoba-an, Binalbagan, Isabela, E.B. Magalona, and the cities of Talisay and Himamaylan.
As of yesterday the affected residents have already returned to their homes./PN
