2 mountaineers rescued

CUENCA, Batangas — Police and the Air Force jointly rescued yesterday two mountaineers who got lost for four days on their way to a pilgrimage camp atop Mt. Makulot in this town.

Police said Jose Cordero, 20, and his cousin, Amore Trajano Jr., 24, both of Antipolo City, were given medical assistance at the Martin Marasigan Hospital here before they were brought to Metro Manila.

Both first-time mountaineers, Cordero and Trajano began their trek up Mt. Makulot early morning of Holy Wednesday through a five-kilometer grassy trail. They were among several pilgrims flocking to the grotto on top of Mt. Makulot, about 600 feet above sea level.

Exhausted, hungry and disoriented, the two finally gave up looking for the pilgrimage site yesterday and using their cellular phones, dialed 117 for police assistance.

Police sought the help of the Air Force which, along with other mountaineers, came to the rescue of the two cousins. — Arnell Ozaeta