The stolen Sto. Niño of Tondo was found today by Imelda through Lulu Tinio, [Eleuterio] Teyet Pascual.
One of the robbers, (a tough known killer and one of the Parungao brothers from Macabebe, Pampanga) had offered the head, hands and feet of the Sto. Niño to Dr. Teyet Pascual’s manager, Tammy ______, also of Cavite for P2,800. Tammy then called Lulu Tinio who asked Imelda to go and see the specimens for sale.
The bishop and father (Bishop Paulino ______ and Father Lorenzo Egos, parish priest of Tondo) identified the specimens at about 7:00 PM first in the reception hall, then in the Music Room.
Shades of Lourdes and Father Pio!!—the people of Cavite talk of a crab found in the province with the image of the lost Sto. Niño in the inside of the crab shell. Paeng Yabut picked this up in his radio commentary and appealed for the return of the Sto. Niño.
So does Mayor [Ramon] Bagatsing [Sr.] who strongly feels with some people that the loss of the Sto. Niño of Tondo is the cause of the floods and rain.
The flood waters are apparently higher now than last week. This seems to be the height of the crisis although the Weather Bureau predicts continuous rains for the next several days.
The national highway going north (Route 3) is cut in several places—Apalit and Kalumpit, San Miguel, Tarlac, San Fernando, Pampanga, Gerona, Tarlac, Carmen, Rosales, Pangasinan, Bued River Bridge (boundary of Pangasinan and La Union), Balaoan, La Union, Sta. Cruz Bridge, Ilocos Sur etc.
And the Angat Dam will have to spill some water tonight. This would be at the rate of 8,000 cubic meters per second. This will farther raise the water level in the Candaba area.
The dikes are holding but are endangered because of the increased velocity of the water. Our Navy LCM’s [landing craft mechanized] and LCVP’s [landing craft, vehicle, personnel] cannot go up to Apalit because of the current. We will try lifting thru by helicopter (Jolly Green Giant) tomorrow.
Official Gazette for July 31, 1972: THE PRESIDENT directed the stepping up of rescue and relief operations following receipt of a report from the National Disaster Control Center that floodwaters in Central Luzon continued to rise because of unremitting, rains.
He ordered the Philippine Navy to send more rescue teams to Bulacan, Pampanga and Tarlac, as well as enlisted the help of the Metrocom for relief and rescue work in the towns of Taguig and Pateros, Rizal.
The President did not receive callers, but devoted the whole day to problems brought about by the Luzon flood.
More deaths in Baguio and from disease.