Republic of the Philippines
DEPARTMENT OF TOURISM REGION III
Hilaga Village, City of San Fernando Pampanga
18 August 2009
RONALDO P TIOTUICO
Regional Director
Information Report
Re: Mt. Pinatubo Incident
1. Please be informed that at about 070800H August 2009, a report was
Received by this office regarding the search and rescue operations on the trapped/stranded (12) twelve foreign nationals (3) Three Koreans, (8) Eight French nationals and (1) One Belgian) on their way back from their trek to MT. PINATUBO CRATER on board Three 4x4 vehicles.
2. Around 071900H, DIR RONALDO TIOTUICO instructed the
Undersigned to proceed to Capas Tarlac to verify the names and exact nationalities of those who reportedly survived and locate the bodies of those who died in this tragic accident.
3. At about 080900H August 2009, together with our driver, we proceed to
Central Luzon Doctors Hospital in Tarlac City and personally talked to MR. REY RANlAGA, ER NURSE SUPERVISOR and informed us that there were only (5) French tourist brought to their hospital namely HELENE DIANA RODJU, PHILIPPE NAVARRE, DIDIER BAZIN, BEATRICE LE GUY ADER AND PHILIPPE GUINEBERT , but they all refused admission and opted to go home to Fiesta Garden hotel in Pampanga, except fur MR PHILIPPE GUINEBERT who transferred to Medical city in manila for medical attention. While the (3) Three Korean Nationals identified as HAN CIRJNG, YANG HUA and HAN SANY were safely rescued and were transported to their billeting area in CLARK AIR BASE after medical attention or check up.
4. At about 081300H, we proceeded to Capas Police Station where we met
by the CHIEF OF POLICE, P/SUPT JOYCE PATRICK B SANGALANG and informed us about their-on going investigation to the incident. At that time, he cannot give us a copy of their report because they are 8tm in the process of collecting statements from the local villagers of Sta Juliana Capas Tarlac and also, they are still identifying the correct spelling of their names, and their exact nationality and address. They are also waiting for the arrival of the CONSULAR ASSISTANT OF THE ROYAL EMBASSY OF BELGIUM and CONSUL OF THE FRENCH EMBASSY to help them identify the names of the survivors and those who perished in the tragedy.
5. PISUPT SANGALANG also said that the remains of those three foreign
nationals who later on identified as MARTINE CHOLET and THIERRY CAILLOT, both French nationals were brought to Mallari Funeral while the remains of WALTER STEYLEMANS, Belgian national were brought to Lotus funeral.
6. August 10, 2009, at about 0900H, the undersigned together with our driver
Proceeded to Capas Tarlac and seek for the assistance of our tourism officer MARISA VIDAL, to secure a copy of the police report and death certificates as instructed by DIRECTOR TIOTUlCO. According to MRS VIDAL, the police are still conducting investigation at that time and interviewing the drivers of the 4x4 used by the to~ identified as JAYCEE MANALO and RUSSEL CANLAS, both members of the Angeles City 4x4 association, and advice us to wait in their tourism office and stayed unti12200H and got nothing in the end.
7. At about 110900H, we went back to Capas Police station and talked to
P/SUPT SANGALANG, and told us that they are not allowed to release a copy of the report without the permission of their PNP Provincial Director, only the Office of the Mayor was provided with copy of their report and advised us to proceed to Camp General Macabulos to get a copy.
8. l100H. We proceeded to Camp General Macabulos and met with PISUPT RANDY ARCEO, ClDEF OPERATION AND PLANS BRANCH and handed us a copy of the INITIAL REPORT and not the SPECIAL REPORT regarding the Search and Rescue operation involving Foreign Nationals in Sta Juliana. Capas Tarlac. Said SPECIAL REPOT was still in Capas Tarlac.
9. At about 1430H, the undersigned called our DOTR3 office and talked to
MRS SVETLANA HENSON, STOO, DOTR3 requested the latter to call the tourism office of Capas and instruct them to fax the copy of the SPECIAL REPORT to DOT NAJA and it will be banded over to the French Nationals scheduled to fly back to their country for the purpose of insurance claim and for MR Philippe NAVARRE who lost his passport due to the incident to secure a new passport and join his friends in flying back to France. Failure to do so, The Municipal Office of Capas Tarlac will shoulder the cancellation, rebooking of his flight schedule, accommodation and meals expenses.
10. Around 1530H, 15 minutes before the check-in of the tourist to
International airport, a phone call from MRS HENSON was received, informing me that the copy of report was already faxed to DOT NAIA and a copy of which was faxed to our Office. And the (6) six French Nationals flew back to their country at about 1945H August 11, 2009.
11. At about 140900H, the undersigned proceeded to Capas Tourism Office to
get the copy of the Death Certificates of the three foreign nationals and requested the Regional Crime Laboratory Office 3 in Camp Olives for the copy of their autopsy or medico legal report for documentation.
12. At about 181500H august 2009, MS MARITESS BALLESTER informed the latter that the remains of MR WALTER STEYLEMANS was already dispatched at about 18121SH August via Korean Airline going to Brussels Belgium, while the remains of the (2) French Nationals namely MS CHOLET MARTINE and THIERRY CAILLOT were still in Rizal Funeral Homes in Pasay City and waiting for schedule of flight.
13. Documents and other belongings recovered we’re properly turned over by the Capas Police Office and duly received by MS IVY WEISZ from the BELGIAN EMBASSY last 08 August 2009.
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