MANILA - Disaster officials and the Philippine Red Cross are at odds over the actual number of fatalities left behind by tropical depression "Ruby."

On Tuesday, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council's official death toll due to "Ruby" rose to 8, with fatalities coming from Regions 4-A (Calabarzon), 4-B (Mimaropa), 7 (Central Visayas) and 8 (Eastern Visayas).

The NDRRMC removed from its tally the two deaths in Iloilo, which were caused by hypothermia.

The council also defended its slow tally on casualties from "Ruby", which is lower than the Red Cross' own count of at least 22 fatalities.

"Convinced naman kami na namatay e pero dapat alam namin kung may certificate na ba yan, kung namatay yan dahil sa bagyo," NDRRMC executive director Alexander Pama said.

"During past typhoon, ang tanong natin bakit mabagal. Dapat official yan. Baka sabihin ng tao, ito ako buhay na buhay."

On the other hand, Red Cross Chairman Richard Gordon said he stands by the organization's own tally and will not argue with government officials about their own official list.

"We are in the business of saving lives. Gusto nila zero casualty, but that's impossible. I commend that, that's good. We should try to aim high but at the same time, gusto nila DOH pa ang mag-ve- verify," he said.

"Kami, kapag nakakita kami ng patay, we are trained to handle the dead."

Included in the Red Cross' own count are four members of the Amuyo family who drowned in Borongan, Eastern Samar, and a certain Epifanio Jardenia from the same barangay.

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NDRRMC, Red Cross clash over 'Ruby' death count