Retrieval operations for the three treasure hunters buried alive in a collapsed mining site in Purok 3, Barangay Ibo, Malalag, Davao del Sur have been completed. The effort was carried out by teams from the Malalag MDRRMO, the Davao del Sur PDRRMO, the Digos City CDRRMO, the Bureau of Fire Protection, the Armed Forces of the Philippines, Davao Sur Emergency Rescue, Malalag’s Municipal Health Office, barangay officials of Ibo, and the local government of Malalag.
Authorities said the incident happened on Nov. 11, 2025, while three individuals were conducting treasure hunting led by a contractor identified as Alias Jerson, 50, along with the landowner known as Alias John, 67.
The first body found last week was identified as Glenn Eral Sasuman of Digos City. On Saturday, Nov. 15, at 10:24 a.m., rescuers recovered the body of Simaco Sabac Quisaot, 63, from Purok 1, Upper Limonzo, Padada, Davao del Sur. Another body was found at 2 p.m. the same day and identified as Nario Gesola Otida of Ruparan, Digos City.
Officials said the three workers were buried alive after the mined area suddenly collapsed. The site was about 50 feet deep, making the retrieval effort difficult and time-consuming.
The successful retrieval ended days of coordinated work among rescue teams and local agencies as families waited for confirmation of the victims’ identities and the recovery of their remains.
