Text and photos by Froilan Gallardo, Mindanews
I am a professional photojournalist and I am not in a habit of showing bloated bodies unless there is a compelling reason. This is an exception. The city government of Cagayan de Oro transferred 30 bodies from Bollozos Funeral Homes in Barangay Bulua to the garbage landfill in Zayas, Barangay Carmen Sunday night. The reson is the bodies have bloated and smelled a lot. Since no one came forward to claim the bodies, the city government said the bodies would be better in the landfill where it could still be viewed by relatives.
I am shocked by this decision. The city government has made countless of mistakes since tropical storm Sendong struck but this decision TOPS THEM ALL. Why transfer the bodies to a garbage landfill? The dead are not garbage no matter how bloated they are. Yet the city government left the bodies lying on the ground under the sun. The dead is always handled with respect. It only showed how insensitive the city government. Grabeh.
I am angry of this disrespect. As I clicked the shutter of my camera, I have only one thing in my mind. Expose this to the world and give justice to the dead. My mind shouted in the rage of this travesty. Nevermind the smell. There was injustice at the landfill.
Relatives of still missing resident of Cagayan de Oro view the bodies that were transferred from Bollozos Funeral Parlor in Barangay Bulua to the garbage landfill in Barangay Carmen, all in Cagayan de Oro City, on Monday, Dec. 19, 2011. The City government ordered their transfer Monday after the morgues were swamped with bodies killed by Tropical Storm Sendong.
Relatives of still missing resident of Cagayan de Oro view a body that was transferred from Bollozos Funeral Parlor in Barangay Bulua to the garbage landfill in Barangay Carmen, all in Cagayan de Oro City, on Monday, Dec. 19, 2011. The City government ordered the transfer of 30 bodies Monday after the morgues were swamped with bodies killed by Tropical Storm Sendong.