The Tragic Cherry Hills Subdivision Landslide (1999) | PH Murder Stories

Summary

The pH Murder Stories podcast delves into the tragic 1999 Cherry Hill subdivision landslide in the Philippines, caused by Typhoon Olga. The disaster killed 60, buried 378 houses, and displaced thousands. The episode explores the finger-pointing between residents and developers over substandard construction and inadequate responses to early warning signs. It also discusses the legal aftermath, including arrests and compensation orders, and the changes in regulations that followed to prevent such tragedies.

Takeaways

• 🚨 The podcast 'pH Murder Stories' provides a warning about the potentially disturbing content related to violent crimes and encourages listeners to prioritize their safety and well-being.
• 🌪️ Typhoon Olga caused devastating landslides in the Korean Peninsula, particularly in the Cherry Hill subdivision in Antipolo City, Rizal, resulting in 60 deaths and the destruction of 300 homes.
• 🏠 The Cherry Hill subdivision was built with substandard materials and had a history of fissures that were ignored by the developers, leading to a catastrophic landslide during the typhoon.
• 🛠️ The aftermath of the disaster revealed a lack of proper geological surveys and the absence of a requirement for developers to conduct such assessments before construction.
• 🏗️ The Philippine Japan Solidarity Corporation, responsible for the Cherry Hill subdivision, was charged with violating the subdivision and condominium buyers protective decree after the tragedy.
• 💰 The court ordered the developer to compensate for damages and reimburse residents, but the company appealed the decision, blaming the heavy rains instead of their construction practices.
• 🔍 Geologists disputed the developer's claims, stating that geological characteristics of the area made it vulnerable to landslides, and that heavy rains were not the sole cause of the disaster.
• 📊 The tragedy led to changes in regulations, with the Department of Environmental and Natural Resources requiring geological hazard assessments for housing and infrastructure projects.
• 🏆 The podcast invites listeners to support the show through Patreon or by giving a five-star rating on Spotify, emphasizing the team's passion for providing true crime content.
• 🌐 The podcast encourages listeners to follow them on various social media platforms for updates and to subscribe to their YouTube channel for more content.
• 📢 The podcast clarifies that the views and opinions expressed are not necessarily the official policy of the network and are the personal opinions of the creators, hosts, and guests.

Q & A

What is the pH murder stories podcast about?

The pH murder stories podcast covers true accounts of infamous killings and true crime stories from the Philippines, including shocking, sad, and deeply researched narratives.

What is the content warning provided at the beginning of the podcast episode?

The content warning mentions that the episode may include discussions around sexual assault, domestic violence, stalking, physical violence, or other disturbing subject matters that may be difficult for some listeners.

How many lives were reportedly taken by the deadly typhoon in North and South Korea?

More than 160 lives were reportedly taken by the deadly typhoon in North and South Korea.

What was the cost of the damages caused by the typhoon in the Korean Peninsula?

The damages caused by the typhoon in the Korean Peninsula amounted to 657 million dollars.

What was the tragic incident at the Cherry Hill subdivision in Antipolo City, Rizal?

The tragic incident at the Cherry Hill subdivision involved a catastrophic landslide that destroyed 300 homes, took 60 lives, and displaced thousands of people.

What was the main cause of the Cherry Hill subdivision landslide according to the developers?

The developers claimed that the heavy rains from Typhoon Olga were the main cause of the landslide, as the volume of water caused enough pressure to collapse the subdivision.

What were the geological characteristics that made the Cherry Hill subdivision vulnerable to landslides?

The Cherry Hill subdivision was built on a rock bed consisting of alternating porous and impervious rocks with a significant amount of clays that are prone to swelling when drenched with water, making the area vulnerable to landslides.

What was the legal outcome for the Philippine Japan Solidarity Corporation after the Cherry Hill subdivision landslide?

In September 2001, a local court ordered the arrest of three officials of the Philippine Japan Solidarity Corporation for violating the subdivision and condominium buyers protective decree. They were charged but immediately posted bail.

What changes were made in the aftermath of the Cherry Hill subdivision landslide to prevent similar incidents?

A year after the landslide, the Department of Environmental and Natural Resources issued an administrative order requiring developers of housing projects to conduct an engineering geological hazard assessment before obtaining an environmental clearance certificate.

What was the initial reaction of the Philippine Japan Solidarity Corporation regarding the Cherry Hill subdivision disaster?

The company appealed the decision to compensate for damages and instead blamed the heavy rains as the real culprit behind the tragic incident.

How did the residents and developers of the Cherry Hill subdivision respond to the disaster?

Residents accused the developers of using substandard materials, while the developers insisted that the residents' renovations caused the fissures that emerged during the heavy rains.

Outlines

00:00

🚨 Warning and Introduction to pH Murder Stories Podcast

The introduction to the podcast 'pH Murder Stories' includes a content warning about potentially disturbing topics such as sexual assault, domestic violence, and physical violence. It emphasizes the importance of listener safety and well-being. The podcast delves into true accounts of infamous killings and true crime stories from the Philippines, focusing on hidden answers rather than questions. The episode also touches on the devastating impact of a typhoon in Southeast Asia and the Korean Peninsula, highlighting the tragic Cherry Hill subdivision landslide in Antipolo City, Rizal, which resulted in significant loss of life and property damage.

05:02

🏚 Cherry Hill Subdivision Landslide Tragedy

This paragraph details the Cherry Hill subdivision landslide that occurred in 1999 in Antipolo City, Rizal, Philippines. The area, known for its scenic views and tourist attractions, was home to hundreds of families living in low-cost concrete houses. The landslide, triggered by heavy rains from Typhoon Olga, resulted in the death of 60 people and the destruction of 378 houses. The paragraph discusses the inadequate response and equipment of the rescue teams, the poor construction of the houses, and the subsequent legal and compensation issues. It also covers the developer's perspective, the residents' grievances, and the legal actions taken against the Philippine Japan Solidarity Corporation, which was responsible for the development of the subdivision.

10:03

🏗 Post-Disaster Analysis and Legal Consequences

The final paragraph provides an in-depth analysis of the factors contributing to the Cherry Hill subdivision landslide. It discusses the geological characteristics of the area, including the presence of expansive clays and the natural slope of the land, which made the area susceptible to landslides. The paragraph also addresses the developer's claims and the subsequent debunking by geologists. It outlines the legal consequences faced by the Philippine Japan Solidarity Corporation, including the arrest of its officials and the court-ordered compensation for the victims. Additionally, it highlights the changes in regulations that followed the disaster, requiring developers to conduct geological hazard assessments before obtaining environmental clearance.

Keywords

💡Sexual assault

Sexual assault refers to any involuntary sexual act committed against someone without their consent. In the context of the video, this term is mentioned as a potential topic that might be discussed, indicating that the podcast covers sensitive and serious subjects that could be disturbing to some listeners.

💡Domestic violence

Domestic violence encompasses a range of abusive behaviors by one person against another in a domestic setting, such as physical, emotional, or sexual abuse. The video script acknowledges that the podcast may touch upon such distressing themes, emphasizing the need for listeners to be mindful of their emotional well-being.

💡Stalking

Stalking is the act of repeatedly following, watching, or harassing someone, often with the intent to intimidate or threaten. It is mentioned in the script as one of the potentially disturbing topics that the podcast may cover, highlighting the serious nature of the true crime stories discussed.

💡Typhoon

A typhoon is a powerful tropical storm that typically brings strong winds and heavy rain. In the script, the typhoon is a central element of the story, causing devastating landslides and significant loss of life, particularly in the Cherry Hill subdivision in Antipolo City, Rizal.

💡Landslide

A landslide is a geological event where a mass of earth, rock, or debris moves down a slope. The Cherry Hill subdivision landslide is a key event in the video's narrative, resulting in the destruction of homes and the tragic loss of 60 lives, underscoring the catastrophic consequences of natural disasters.

💡Substandard materials

Substandard materials refer to construction materials that do not meet the required quality or safety standards. The script suggests that the use of such materials in the Cherry Hill subdivision may have contributed to the severity of the landslide, as the houses could not withstand the heavy rains.

💡Geological characteristics

Geological characteristics are the physical features and properties of the earth's structure in a particular area. The script mentions that the Cherry Hill subdivision's vulnerability to landslides was due to certain geological traits, such as the presence of expansive clays and a natural slope, which were not adequately accounted for during construction.

💡Presidential Decree 957

Presidential Decree 957 is a Philippine law protecting buyers of subdivision and condominium properties. In the context of the video, it is mentioned in relation to the legal action taken against the developers of Cherry Hill subdivision for their alleged negligence leading to the disaster.

💡Hazard assessment

A hazard assessment is a process of evaluating potential risks and hazards in a particular area or situation. The script discusses how the tragedy led to changes in regulations, requiring developers to conduct geological hazard assessments before obtaining environmental clearance, demonstrating a response to the disaster to prevent future occurrences.

💡Catastrophe

A catastrophe is an event causing great and often sudden damage or suffering. The term is used in the script to describe the Cherry Hill subdivision landslide, emphasizing the scale of the disaster and its profound impact on the community.

Highlights

The podcast 'pH Murder Stories' covers true accounts of infamous killings and crimes in the Philippines.

Content warning is provided for listeners regarding the potentially disturbing nature of the topics discussed.

The podcast does not promote violence and advises viewer discretion due to graphic content.

Typhoon Olga caused catastrophic damage in southeast Asia and the Korean peninsula, taking over 160 lives.

The typhoon resulted in one of the heaviest rains and most devastating landslides in the Korean Peninsula's history.

The Cherry Hill subdivision landslide in Antipolo City, Rizal, destroyed 300 homes and resulted in 60 fatalities.

The 14th episode of season three of 'pH Murder Stories' revisits the Cherry Hill subdivision tragedy.

The Cherry Hill subdivision was built on elevated terrain and was home to hundreds of families.

Residents and developers blamed each other for the disaster, with developers accused of using substandard materials.

Local authorities had warned residents to evacuate prior to the landslide, but it was too late for some.

The landslide was triggered by heavy rains, but geological characteristics made the area vulnerable to such disasters.

Geologists found that the Cherry Hill subdivision's rock bed contained a significant amount of swelling clay, contributing to the landslide.

The Philippine Japan solidarity Corporation was ordered to compensate for damages and reimburse residents' payments.

The company appealed the decision, blaming heavy rains rather than construction quality for the disaster.

Geologists argue that geological surveys could have prevented the tragedy if conducted prior to construction.

The disaster led to new regulations requiring geological hazard assessments for housing and infrastructure projects.

The podcast encourages listeners to support the show through Patreon or by rating on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.

Listeners are invited to follow 'pH Murder Stories' on social media and subscribe to their YouTube channel for updates.

The views expressed in the podcast are those of the creators and do not necessarily reflect the official policy of the network.

Transcripts

[Music]

podcast Network Asia

this episode may include topics

references or discussions around sexual

assault domestic violence stalking

physical violence or subject matters

that may be disturbing to some of our

listeners we do acknowledge that this

content may be difficult we also

encourage you to care for your safety

and well-being

[Music]

shocking sad revealing and deeply

researched pH murder stories podcast

covers the true account of Infamous

killings and true crime stories from the

Philippines

there's no such thing as questions just

hidden answers

stay tuned as we revisit the

inconceivable crimes that exist some

listeners may find the following content

of pH murder stories highly disturbing

due to its graphic nature

pH murder stories does not condone nor

promote violence of all sorts

viewer discretion is advised

[Music]

wreaked havoc all over southeast Asia

and the Korean peninsula

more than 160 lives were taken by the

deadly typhoon in North and South Korea

according to reports the typhoon brought

one of the heaviest rains recorded in

the Korean Peninsula that cost 657

million dollars in Damages

the devastating storm caused one of the

most catastrophic landslides in the

country

particularly the tragic Cherry Hill

subdivision landslide in Antipolo City

Rizal

destroying 300 homes taking out 60 lives

and displacing thousands of people

[Music]

you are listening to the pH murder

stories podcast and this is the 14th

episode of season three

foreign

listener of pH murder stories you may

consider supporting our show by

subscribing as a suspect or prime

suspect at

www.patreon.com pH murder stories or by

giving us a five-star rating on Spotify

[Music]

[Music]

foreign

foreign

happen

foreign

[Music]

foreign

Hill subdivision is located in barangay

San Luis Antipolo Rizal it was home to

hundreds of families that purchased

low-cost concrete houses

[Music]

DePaula city is located on elevated

terrain it is famous among tourists that

want to see the bright lights of Metro

Manila from a scenic view

the province is also known for its

pilgrimage sites and resorts

as for the Cherry Hill subdivision the

tragic incident in 1999 killed 60 people

and buried 378 houses

according to Media reports at the time

local authorities had alerted the

residents to vacate the area a few hours

before the landslide happened after

cracks emerged in roads and walls

unfortunately it was too late for the

victims

as residents gather their belongings the

foundation of the houses at Cherry Hills

did not hold up as the heavy rains were

too much for the poorly built houses to

sustain which caused the houses to slide

down the hill crushing what was below

its path

the rescue teams tried their best to

help save the people buried in the

landslide

however due to inadequate equipment to

expedite their search rescue teams were

forced to utilize backhoes to remove

concrete slabs and other debris to

recover those buried

consequently it took several weeks for

rescue teams to recover the victims of

this unfortunate incident

while the subdivision was being built

way before the tragic incident it was

separated into two parts

it was situated along the purchase of

the Shera Madre Mountains

the Eastern Summit is at an elevation of

255 meters while the western side is at

233 meters

the subdivision separated from the

Mountainside is about 26 meters at its

deepest

according to initial investigations the

Cherry Hill subdivision was built with

substandard materials and its

foundations were filled with water from

typhoon Olga's heavy rains which caused

the landslide that took most of the

houses down

the president of the Philippine Japan

solidarity Corporation is the developer

and owner of the Cherry Hill subdivision

[Music]

in the aftermath of this catastrophic

disaster residents and developers

pointed fingers at each other based on

the point of view of the residents the

developers used mediocre materials for

the low-cost housing project

on the other hand the developers

insisted that the residents who

renovated their houses caused the

fissures that emerged amid the heavy

rains from typhoon Olga however a

crucial detail resurfaced which favors

the sentiments of the residents

five years before the landslide Caroline

fissures on the walls and Pavements were

already observed the developers failed

to conduct a protocol for that instance

and ignored the observations completely

September 2001 a local court ordered the

arrest of three officials of the

Philippine Japan solidarity Corporation

including company president tereso

santelian Hiroshi Ogawa the general

manager and Eleazar Rodriguez the

assistant general manager all were

charged with violating presidential

decree 957 or the subdivision and

condominium buyers protective decree but

they immediately posted bail

in the same year the housing and land

use regulatory board ordered the

Philippine Japan solidarity Corporation

to compensate the damages worth 89

million pesos and reimbursed the

previous payments made by the residents

of Cherry Hill subdivision

however the company appealed the

decision

the company instead blamed the heavy

rains as the real culprit behind a

tragic incident in 1999. according to

the developers the huge volume of water

that flowed into the Cherry Hill

subdivision caused enough pressure that

caused the subdivisions collapse

however up-based geologists debunked the

claims of the developers they argue that

while heavy rains may have triggered the

disaster they claim that certain

geological characteristics made the

Cherry Hill subdivision vulnerable to

landslides

which meant that heavy rains were not

solely responsible for the catastrophic

tragedy the geologists also conducted a

post-mortem examination which stated

that the rock bed under the Cherry Hill

subdivision consisted of alternating

porus and impervious rocks at a

significant amount of Clays that are

probably distinguished as the swelling

type

furthermore the geologists concluded

that the Clays applied by the developers

are prone to accidents because

expandable Clays when drenched with

water are natural planes of slippage in

addition the natural slope of the ground

its sparse nature and pre-existing

cracks in its Rock bed made the land

area very vulnerable regardless if a

Geological Survey had been conducted

before the Cherry Hill subdivision was

built the tragic Landslide could have

been avoided

okay

foreign

due to the low-cost nature of the houses

built for the Cherry Hill subdivision

the cost of a Geological Survey could

have made the prices of the houses

steeper at the time the government did

not require housing developers to

conduct such surveys which finally

changed after the catastrophic event a

year after the catastrophic Landslide it

led the Department of Environmental and

natural resources to issue an

administrative order requiring

developers of housing projects and other

infrastructure projects to administer an

engineering geological NGO hazard

assessment of the area before obtaining

an environmental clearance certificate

indeed the Cherry Hill subdivision

landslide in 1999 was a case where

catastrophe math mediocrity

[Music]

um

[Music]

foreign

[Music]

thank you for listening to pH murders

stories if you like this episode give us

a 5 star rating on Spotify and apple

podcasts you can also support our show

on patreon any amount you donate would

benefit our team to keep doing what we

love which is to provide more True Crime

episodes for our listeners

Link in the description

for further updates from our show follow

us on Facebook Instagram Twitter and

Tech talk at BH murder stories

And subscribe to our YouTube channel at

pH murder stories

[Music]

the views and opinions expressed by the

podcast creators hosts and guests do not

necessarily reflect the official policy

and position of podcast Network Asia the

host of the program or other programs on

the network any content provided by the

people on the podcast or of their own

opinion and are not intended to malign

any religion ethnic group Club

organization company individual or

anyone or anything