5 fallen disaster responders hailed as heroes

The five rescuers whose bodies were recovered in Bulacan shared a common love for basketball and saving lives, according to a former colleague.

"We played basketball a lot and enjoyed gatherings with our respective families," said Raymond Bobier Altarejos who quit the rescue group last year to attend to his ailing parents.

"I would have been there, too," said Altarejos, still shocked over the deaths.

Police identified the fatalities as Narciso Calayag, Jerson Resurreccion, Marvy Bartolome, George Agustin and Troy Justin Agusin, all in their 30s and 40s.

The victims, all members of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office of Bulacan, were sent to help flooded residents in San Miguel municipality in Bulacan.

"They were deployed by the provincial government to a flooded area," said P/Lt. Col. Romualdo Andres, chief of police in San Miguel.

Andres said the rescuers were wading through floodwaters when a wall beside them collapsed, sending them into the fast current.

The deaths of the rescuers sent shockwaves to the community.

Altarejos, who now lives in Sorsogon, was crestfallen.

"I told you that I will wait for you in Bicol," he wrote on his Facebook page. "This is totally unexpected."

Until his resignation, Altarejos was part of the group that has gone to many operations.

"We respond to emergencies. Vehicular, trauma, medical, fire, collapse. We train regularly for such situations," he said.

Much to their families' reservations, Altarejos said they're married to their 24/7 job.

The job entails risks, but the satisfaction of saving lives outweighs the danger.

"It's nice to help people. A mere thank you boosts our morale," he said.

Altarejos was prevailed upon by his parents to leave his job during the pandemic.

"I quit so that I can take care of my parents who caught the Covid-19 virus," he said.

Despite the distance, Altarejos said he continued to maintain communication with his colleagues.

"On the night of their dispatch, we chatted online. I even told them that floodwater in San Miguel is itchy recalling our experience during typhoon "Ulysses," he recalled.

That was the last time Altarejos heard of his friends.

"The night before I heard the news, I had a weird dream. There was a wake in Bulacan. I didn't know who he was. I just went there," he narrated.

"When I woke up, I knew something happened."

Altarejos said he doesn't have the heart to talk with the victims' families.

"They're family to me. When I was stationed in Bulacan, they were my family because I was alone. It's hard to lose friends because of the things they've gone through," he said.

Altarejos said he doesn't see himself going back to Bulacan and returning to his old job.

"But here in Sorsogon, maybe," he quickly added.

The tragedy led to an outpouring of sympathy for the fallen heroes.

"We honor Narciso Calayag, Jerson Resureccion, Marby Bartolome, George Agustin, and Troy Justin Agustin for their bravery. They are the true heroes. They faced the danger to save lives," said Senate President Miguel Zubiri in his Facebook page.

"As a Red Cross volunteer myself, I salute and honor them for their courage and selflessness," Zubiri continued.

"When the population runs away from danger and calamity, it's these men and women who go into danger, risking their lives to save our people. And these five heroes stayed true to their duty to the very end. We will keep them in our prayers, and we will honor their lives by strengthening our risk disaster and management efforts across the nation."