Benigno Aquino Says Death Toll Likely Lower Than Feared

[Fred & Mimi]

The situation for millions of people in typhoon-ravaged parts of the Philippines is becoming dire, but the nation's president says the death toll from the disaster is likely far lower than initially feared.

A massive relief effort is underway after Typhoon Haiyan ripped across the province of Leyte on Friday, but bad weather and damaged infrastructure is hampering efforts to get aid to those most in need.

Aid officials and the United Nations estimates initially put the death toll at around in 10,000 Tacloban alone, but president Benigno Aquino now says it is likely to be much lower.

 

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Edited November 13, 2013 by Fred & Mimi

[Old55]

It's becoming very clear now just how incompetent and clueless Aquino is.

[Fred & Mimi]

Well the sensationalism of all those deaths did give all the attention to Leyte to the exclusion of northern Cebu which also copped a hiding from ST Yolanda and hardly was mentioned in the news.

Edited November 13, 2013 by Fred & Mimi

[JJReyes]

It is very incompetent for the president's staff to estimate only 2,500 dead when they have not even collected the bodies for burial. The US media is now quoting him as saying, "Death toll will not exceed 2,500." It would have been more appropriate for him to say, "The UN estimate is 10,000, but we won't know the exact number for weeks." Terrible PR. 

[SubicSteve]

It's becoming very clear now just how incompetent and clueless Aquino is.

 

You managed to convey my thoughts without using the same words I would have used.  This dimwit has less leadership skills than a community organizer.  HE will be responsible for more deaths than the actual storm.  Step aside and let real leaders take control, ones from OTHER countries!!!!!!

 

And as long as I'm ranting...

 

 

... Has anyone heard or read of even 1 centavo being donated by ANY of the 25 or so families that run this country?  Every day by hook or by crook they grab more money from the masses and give NOTHING back but high priced crap in there stores.

 

1. Henry Sy (SM group) - $12 billion

2. Lucio Tan (LT group) - $7.5 billion

3. Andrew Tan (Megaworld) - $4.6 billion

4. Enrique Razon (ICTSI) - $4.5 billion

5. John Gokongwei Jr. (JG Summit) - $3.4 billion

6. Jaime Zobel de Ayala (Ayala Corp.) - $3.1 billion

7. Aboitiz family (AEV) - $3 billion

8. David Consunji (DMCI) - $2.7 billion

9. George Ty (Metrobank) - $2.6 billion

10. Lucio & Susan Co (Puregold) - $1.9 billion

11. Tony Tan Caktiong (Jollibee) - $1.7 billion

12. Robert Coyiuto Jr. - $1.5 billion

13. Emilio Yap (Philtrust Bank) - $1.35 billion

14. Roberto Ongpin - $1.3 billion

15. Inigo & Mercedes Zobel - $1.2 billion

16. Manuel Villar (Vista Land) $1.05 billion

17. Andrew Gotianun (Filinvest) $1 billion

18. Beatrice Campos (Unilab) $900 million

19. Vivian Que Azcona (Mercury Drug) $840 million

20. Eduardo Cojuangco Jr. (San Miguel) $825 million

21. Alfonso Yuchengco - (Yuchengco group) $705 million

22. Oscar Lopez (Lopez Holdings) $675 million

23. Betty Ang (Monde Nissin) $600 million

24. Jorge Araneta (Araneta group) $505 million

25. Carlos Chan (Liwayway) $500 million

26. Michael Romero (Global Port 900) $490 million

27. Eric Recto $485 million

28. Mariano Tan Jr. (Unilab) $435 million

29. Frederick Dy (Security Bank) $290 million

30. Walter Brown (Atok-Big Wedge) $270 million

31. Ramon Ang (San Miguel) $260 million

32. Jose Antonio (Century Properties) $255 million

33. Wilfred Uytengsu Jr. $250 million

34. Manuel Zamora Jr. (Nickel Asia) $240 million

35. Jacinto Ng Sr. (Asia United Bank) $230 million

36. Alfredo Ramos (National Book Store) $225 million

37. Gilberto Duavit (GMA Network) $224 million

38. Menardo Jimenez (GMA Network) $223 million

39. Edgar Sia II (Mang Inasal founder) $210 million

40. Bienvenido Tantoco Sr. (Rustan's) $205 million

41. Felipe Gozon (GMA) $200 million

42. Alfredo Yao (Zest-O) $180 million

43. Michael Cosiquien (Megawide Construction) $175 million

44. Edgar Saavedra (Megawide Construction) $170 million

45. Juliette Romualdez (Benguet Mining) $165 million

46. Tomas Alcantara (Alsons Consolidated) $160 million

47. Lourdes Montinola (FEU) $155 million

48. Luis Virata (Nickel Asia) $120 million

49. Philip Ang (Nickel Asia) $115 million

50. Manuel Pangilinan (PLDT, First Pacific) $105 million

[Old55]

My wife and other Filipinos here are coming to the conclusion inaction is a deliberate choice.

[i am bob]

I cannot account for why relief efforts are taking so long but I have been trying to keep up with what is happening by following both the Filipino and international newspapers. One thing I noticed was that the international papers were reporting differently what Aquino (and others) was supposed to be saying than what the Filipino papers were reporting.

Sent by Gaseous Monkeys using tin cans, a very long string and Tapatalk...

[earthdome]

Then you have organizations like UNICEF and Save The Children making outrageous claims that 4 million children are at risk from the typhoon. I even saw an interview with someone from Save The Children claiming that the typhoon will result in an increase in human trafficking.

 

All too many NGO's are about promoting themselves and increasing their fundraising than actually helping people.

 

Don't get me wrong. This is a terrible tragedy effecting millions of people. It just makes me very angry when people use natural disasters like this for their own interests.

[MikeB]

Whether it's 10,000 or 5,000, this is a human tragedy of immense proportion that requires 100% of the President's efforts to get help to those who need it. He should be using these interviews with the International press to get that across, not speculating and disputing numbers of dead. 

[Mike S]

Step aside and let real leaders take control, ones from OTHER countries!!!!!!

 

He has one person ... his vice-president that can take control and do what he did to clean up Makati and bring the city out of debt .... he is a man of action ... but then he isn't from the right party and doesn't get any support from that party .... they would rather shuttle party members in and out wringing their hands and declaring how bad it is .... everyone knows how bad it is ...... they need someone to fix it ....  :thumbsup: .....  JMHO

:cheersty: