By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

A retired cop who was erroneously reported earlier as being found alive has been clarified by the local government of Hinoba-an to have remained missing and was found dead off the locality’s coast yesterday afternoon.

Eric Tenerife, consultant to Hinoba-an Mayor Ernesto Estrao, said retired Police Chief Master Sgt. Dakie Dacuscus previously served as a security aide to Estrao.

Dacuscus’ wife, now identified as Jessybel, was found alive on Wednesday morning, however, it turned out that the man who was also found alive after being swept away by flood waters was identified only as Jacky.

At the time of the flooding in the town, at least five people were reported to have gone missing, which include the Dacuscus couple, who were swept away by a flash flood while driving inside their pickup truck.

The pickup truck was later found at the town’s coastline, completely mangled beyond recognition.

Authorities have already rescued all of the missing individuals last Wednesday, except for Dacuscus, who was later found dead off the coast of the town’s Barangay Bulwangan.

Earlier between Wednesday evening and Thursday morning, the town of 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 flash flood in the municipality forcing some of the town’s residents to flee their homes and seek shelter in 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 were brought to 17 evacuation centers in the municipalities of Hinoba-an, Binalbagan, Isabela, and E.B. Magalona, and the cities of Talisay and Himamaylan.

As of yesterday the affected residents have already returned to their homes./DGB, WDJ