Authorities recovered one body from a collapsed landfill in Rodriguez, Rizal, while two others remain missing, Mayor Ronnie Evangelista confirmed on Monday.

The mayor clarified that the recovered victim, a woman, was among three reported buried in the incident that occurred on Friday, February 20, but was only reported to the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) on Sunday, February 22.

“Tatlo po ay missing, pero yung isa po sa missing ay na-retrieve na, nakuha na kahapon. Nakuha na rin ng pamilya,” Evangelista said.

“Kaya mayroon pang dalawa na nawawala at well, best effort para makita yan. Sinasapakahirap mag-retrieve or mag-recover sa bundok ng basura. Hindi naman iya katulad ng ordinary na landslide, panay basura yan. Kaya hindi po pwede na basta-basta mano-mano ang pag-retrieve. Napakahirap,” he added.

Meanwhile, both the local government unit (LGU) and OCD dismissed the numbers earlier reports claimed that as many as 50 people were buried in the trash slide.

Evangelista described the figure as an “exaggeration“ and “dubious“, while OCD deputy spokesperson Jego Mariano called it “not factual.”

The claim originated from the urban bureaucracy group, grupong Kadamay, which reportedly interviewed families of the victims.

“‘Yung 50 plus or 100 na natabunan daw or missing ay wala pong katotohanan yan. Exaggerated naman sobra yan. 50, minsan sa report pa lang e medyo diskumpiyado ka na eh. Paano nalalaman na 50? Bakit hindi 49? Bakit hindi 51? Bakit eksaktong 50? Doon pa lang sa report, medyo dubious na,” the mayor said during the LGU’s flag-raising ceremony.

According to OCD, the collapse involved the opening of a garbage mound at a private landfill owned by Greenhills Solid Waste Management Inc.

The Rizal provincial government and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), has launched an investigation into the incident.

Rescue efforts continue as authorities work to locate the two remaining missing individuals.