Search and Rescue K9 finds missing granny in Benguet

October 14, 2017 Community Billboard

LA TRINIDAD, BENGUET – Search and rescue dogs on afternoon of October 10 (Tuesday) found the 83-year old grandmother Mina Balangay along a forested area in Bokod, Benguet, two weeks after she was reported missing.
The lola went missing on September 27, 2017.
Police and fire officers, community volunteers together with members of the Bokod Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (MDRRMO) initially started the search and rescue operations until October 5, but were occasionally interrupted due to moderate to heavy downpours.
On Saturday (October7), the Cordillera K9 Search and Rescue team jumped off from Baguio City to help in the operations.
The Philippine Air Force Tactical Operations Group 1 activated the “Cordillera Search and Rescue K9 Team” with Staff Sergeant Jake Belino, Police Officers 1 Eric Accatan and Bryan Agustin, Victor Domingo and Noel Nacilla with their trained dogs.
On Tuesday, after three days of tiring work, the cadaver was found some 800 meters away from the residential area at sitio Ampakeng. “My (dog) detected the scent of the body in the flowing water from the creek. We traced and followed the stream and we found the lifeless body of the victim within the forested area,” said Accatan whose female Belgian Mallanois “Lykan” spotted the victim.
Domingo, an accomplished dog trainer, said they brought four trained dogs, all Belgian Mallanois, for the successful operation.
The 83-year-old grandmother may have slipped basing on the injury she incurred on the side part of her body, added Accatan.
Organized in 2016, Tuesday’s operation is now the third successful operation of the Cordillera K9 SAR Team. ACE ALEGRE / ABN