MARIVELES, Bataan — Rescuers on Monday dawn safely assisted seven mountaineers to go down from the peak of a ridge here which is well-known for mountain climbing after they were stranded due to bad weather.
Barangay tanods from Alas-asin, and staff of the municipal disaster risk reduction management office and the Metro Bataan Development Authority conducted the rescue of the mountaineers at the Tarak Ridge in Mount Mariveles starting at 7 p.m. Sunday until 4 a.m. Monday.
The mountaineers, five males and two females, all graduating college students of a university in Balanga City were identifi ed as John Tarriela, Henmhark Sumandal, Aaron Gloria, Jhazier Sanson, Mark Joseph Gemina, Janine Dizon and Didith Rose Mangalindan. They are all from Bataan.
Sumandal admitted they lacked preparation and they were not ready to climb the mountain.
He said the weather was “normal” when they started hiking at 6 a.m. of Sunday. “Pagdating namin sa itaas, hindi namin inaasahan na lumakas ang ulan, lumakas ang hangin tapos halos mag- zero-visibility na ang lugar,” he said. “Hindi kami nawala, na-stranded lang.”
‘’May kasama kaming hinihika doon sa itaas kaya tumawag na talaga kami ng rescue. Ang mga gamit namin ay basa nang lahat sa sobrang lakas ng ulan,” John Tarriela said.
Sumandal said they did not know that they have to inform the barangay before climbing the mountain.
“Just enjoy the place. Sinubukan namin kahit mahirap. Babalik pa din kami. Alamin na lang muna ang kundisyon ng panahon bago umakyat,” he said.
Tarriela urged mountaineers to register first in the barangay hall.
“Masaya naman pero kailangan maging responsible,” Sumandal said of their experience.
Gloria thanked all those responsible for their rescue. Sumandal said they have already informed their parents of what happened.
Alas-asin barangay chairman Roberto Arcenal, Sr. said the mountaineers sought their assistance when the weather got worst and were already afraid to go down.
“Basang-basa ang mga mountaineers, lahat ng gamit nila basa kaya kailangan na silang makababa kaagad dahil giniginaw na sila,” the village head said.
He said that the group did not register in the barangay and their names not entered in their logbook.
“Panawagan ko sa lahat ng mountaineers na gustong umakyat sa Tarak, dapat makipag-ugnayan at dumaan sa barangay para marehistro sila at malaman namin na may umakyat na tao sa itaas,” Arcenal said.
