Soldiers rescue students trapped on Mount Natib
By Francis T. Wakefield
ORANI, Bataan – A group of students from Bulacan were rescued by Army troops from the Armed Forces Northern Luzon Command after they were stranded on Mount Natib here Saturday.
Nolcom spokesperson Lt. Col. Isagani Nato identified the students from the Bulacan State University as Quirino Santiago, Leomart Mangawan, Carlo Fuentez, Jovito Bacay Jr., Ian Carlo, Reniel Calooy, Federico Odiada, Jeffrey Culilap, and Arjan Eteban.
The students were hiking in Mount Natib Friday when they were trapped by heavy rains and flooding caused by the southwest monsoon or “habagat” and tropical storm “Domeng.”
The 48th Infantry Battalion under the Joint Task Force Kaugnay was informed and promptly rescued the students. The 48th IB was accompanied by the police here and Metropolitan Bataan Development Authority.
They were taken to the Tala Patrol Base in Barangay Tala, this municipality, for medical assistance and initial debriefing following their rescue.