9 students rescued atop Mount Natib

ORANI, Bataan — Nine students from the Bulacan State University (BSU) who were stranded atop Mount Natib at the height of tropical storm “Domeng’s” onslaught last Saturday were rescued successfully by government rescue teams.

Senior Superintendent Marcelo Dayag, Bataan Police Provincial Office (PPO) director, identified the rescued students as Quino Santiago, Leomart Mangawan, Carlo Fuentes, Jovito Bacay Jr., Ian Carlo, Reniel Calooy, Federico Odiada, Jeffrey Culilap and Arjan Esteban, all electrical engineering students at the BSU.

Dayag lauded the combined efforts of rescue teams from the Bataan PPO, the Metro Bataan Development Authority (MBDA), and the military for the safe rescue of the nine students from the province’s highest peak – the summit of Mt. Natib in Barangay Tala, this town.

“Mabilis po ang naging rescue procedures kasi very high-tech ang approach ng MBDA and we thank everyone sa rescue units, the army at lahat po ng mga tumulong,” he said.

MBDA General Manager Charlie Pizarro, who mobilized the rescuers, said the stranded students were so exhausted and cold after being exposed to very bad weather on the mountain.

“They were shaken and cold when we met them during our rescue efforts with the 48th IB (Infantry Battalion) personnel of the Philippine Army,” said Chief Inspector Leobaldon Bacon, Orani chief of police, told the Manila Bulletin. “They were then so weak and hopeless,” he added.