CAMP OLIVAS -- Nine mountaineers from Bulacan State University who were stranded at the summit of Mount Natib, in Orani, Bataan were rescued last Saturday, June 9.
Senior Superintendent Marcelo Dayag, Bataan police provincial director, said the mountaineers were trapped at the said summit due to heavy rains.
Dayat said the mountaineers are all fourt year students of Electrical Technology at the Bulacan State University in Malolos City.
Loemart Mangawan, 19, said they started climbing from Barangay Tala, upland village in Orani, at 2 p.m. last Friday, June 8.
At 8 pm, they reached the peak which is 1,226 meters above sea level and part of the Bataan National Park, he said.
“Isa naming kasamahan ang tumawag sa nanay niya na nagpapa-rescue. Ninerbiyos siguro sa lakas ng ulan,” Mangawan said.
Federico Odiada, 20, said they found it hard to climb the summit through ropes.
Odiada thanked their rescuers. “Huwag susubok kundi kaya para walang madamay,” he advised mountaineers.
Most of the mountaineers sustained bruises and wounds because of insect and leech bites.
Dayag said they started the rescue operation at dawn on Saturday.
The rescuers and the mountaineers returned to the village at 12:00 noon.
Dayag said MBDA has high-tech communications facilities.
“Kailangan dumaan sa proseso. Mag-register sa barangay,” Dayag advised mountaineers. (Ric Sapnu)