14 student-mountaineers trapped in Bataan rescued

MARIVELES, Bataan - A team of rescuers from the police, medics and barangay on Wednesday safely assisted and rescued 14 student-mountaineers, two of them women, who were trapped on a mountain by the swollen Papaya River at the Tarak Ridge in barangay Alas-Asin in Mariveles, Bataan.

 

Alas-Asin barangay captain Elpidio Estiebar, Jr. said the geology engineering students from Mapua Institute of Technology in Manila and Geo Mountaineering Group were on their way down after having stayed in the mountain since Monday at dawn.

 

He said the Papaya River inside ridge, four to five hours’ hike from the village, got swollen and turbulent after heavy rains on Tuesday night.

 

“Nakatanggap ako ng text message ng 8:06 ng umaga ng Miyerkules [galing] kay James Angeles, tumatayong leader ng grupo, na humihingi ng tulong na saklolohan sila dahil bukod sa may lagnat ang ilang kasamahan nila, gutom na rin sila dahil naubos na ang kanilang food supply,” Estiebar said.

 

He said that when he informed Mariveles Mayor Jesse Concepcion about the matter, the mayor asked them to move fast “dahil mas lalaki ang problema kung aabutin ng gabi.”

 

He said rescuers assisted the students in crossing the deep and raging river at about 1 p.m. and brought them down to Alas-Asin at 5 p.m. of the same day.

 

Estiebar said Tarak Ridge has become a tourist attraction and many visitors have enjoyed their stay on the beautiful mountain. “First time lang ngayon na may na-trap sa bundok dahil sa matinding ulan,” the barangay chair said. 

 

He said that despite the incident, the students promised to be back. 

 

The Barangay Tanod said the students even sang “Idol ko si Kap” before leaving the barangay hall for Manila, thanking the village head for the quick action. –KG, GMA News