Sixth body of drowned ‘mountaineers’ recovered

By nelson Bolos

TARLAC CITY -- The 6^th among the mountain trekkers who were drowned in a creek in Barangay Iba, San Jose town, last Aug. 30 was finally found.

Senior Supt Alex Sintin, Tarlac Provincial Director, identified the sixth victim of the rampaging waters of Pangasaan creek as Yasmin Evangelista Solis, 27, of  Lobo, Batangas.

She was found some 2 km from where her other companions were swept.

The five other fatalities earlier recovered were Mark Reiven Luna Villanueva, of Tanauan, Batangas, Rocky Sumalino y Nangnang, 27, single, of Batasan Hills, Quezon City, Bernadeth Ramirez y Corpuz, 22, single, of Cainta, Rizal, Jomary San Diego y Embien, 22 years old, single, from Duhat, Bocaue, Bulcan and Doreen Adriano y Domingo of Makati City

The victims were crossing the Pangasaan creek Sunday afternoon when heavy rains brought down rampaging mountain waters which swept them.

Nine of them survived but sustained injuries. They are David Ocampo, 24, of Fiesta Community subd.,LeizelBorja, 25, of Brgy. Matatalaib, Joel Bautista, 30, of Brgy. Maliwalo, Willie Obrigon,  28, of Blk. 5, San Vicente, all from Tarlac City, Charlie Manuel y Esteban, 32, of Brgy. Tambugan, Camiling, Tarlac,  KristineAlaineSayson, 31, of Victor St. Greenview, Las Piñas City Cherry Geronimo Catchero, 29, of Brgy. Bagbagin, Sta. Maria, Bulacan, JaninaPamintuan, 22, of Brgy. Sto.Cristo, Angeles City, Pampanga, and Charice Geronimo, 32, from Buendia, Makati City.

The survivors and fatalities were part of a 54-member “good Samaritans” group from Metro Manila, Pampanga and Tarlac who are mostly Manila based professionals and middle level executives. The group conducted outreach program and gift giving to the Aeta families living at the mountain top village of SitioBaag, Brgy. Iba.

Most visitors of the scenic mountain village of Aetas use the 6-hour trek from Barangay Sta Lucia in Capas town which has a gentler uphill pass. Tough geographical closer to the paved roads in San Jose town, the local track is more dangerous to take because of steeper ravines and deep creek paths.       

Sintin also reported that the 39 persons who were unharmed were rescued by the combined elements of the Tarlac police, the 3^rd Mechanized Army Battalion and the Provincial Disaster and Risk Reduction Management office.  

Contrary to earlier reports, the Philippine Mountaineers Association denied that the group were their members.