BATANGAS CITY – Rescuers have finally found on Monday the body of Romulo Soriano who was onboard a car with his wife and son when it fell off a bridge after it collapsed during the onslaught of the Typhoon “Santi” (international codename Mirinae) last Saturday morning, police said.

Superintendent Manuel Abu, Batangas City police chief said the body of 3-year old Nicolo Soriano was recovered earlier along the riverside of Barangay Pisa in Tingloy, Batangas on Sunday around 10:00 am.

Subsequently, the body of Nicolo’s father Romulo was found along the shoreline of Barangay Sta. Clara Ilaya in Batangas City early Monday morning. His car was also found a few meters away from the bridge original place.

During the landfall of typhoon Santi in Batangas, Romulo fetched his wife Malou at the Provincial Health Office with Nicolo and on their way home aboard their Honda Civic (MLR-888) when the incident happened around 7:30 am.

Witnesses said the Soriano family, residents of Barangay Sampaga, were about to cross the Bridge Of Promise in Barangay Kumintang when the bridge’s foundation gave way, plunging them with a portion of the road bridge into the swollen Kalumpang river.

“It was an extraordinary scene, ang daming mga troso na lumulutang sa river kaya posibleng ‘yon ang sumira sa pundasyon ng tulay,” said Atty. Tony Pastor who said he was at the scene when he actually saw the 30-year old bridge collapsed.

Malou Soriano, an employee of the Provincial Health Office, managed to climb out of their sinking car and floated along with the current while clinging to a piece of wood.

A few hours later, Malou was rescued by a certain Tarasani Baltapa, a resident of Barangay Malitam when the latter saw the victim floating unconscious along the river around 8:00 a.m.

“Dinala namin siya kaagad sa bahay ‘tsaka namin pinainom ng kape para mainitan ang sikmura,” Lolit Coz, a resident of Barangay Malitam said

Coz said Soriano was disoriented when they retrieved her from the river. “Ang paulit-ulit niyang binabanggit ay ang asawa’t anak niya,” she added.

“Pinahiram na lang namin siya(Soriano) ng cellphone para matawagan niya ang kanyang mga kamag-anak,” Coz narrated.

She was rushed to St. Patrick’s Hospital for minor contusions and exhaustions.

Relatives of the Soriano family have refused to give interviews to the media. The remains of the Romulo and Nicolo meanwhile were brought to San Fernando Funeral Homes in Batangas City. By Arnell Ozaeta, ABS-CBN News Southern Tagalog