2 Pinatubo mountaineers drown

CAMP OLIVAS, Pampanga — Two mountaineers who were on their way to Mt. Pinatubo drowned while passing through the Pasig-Potrero river last Saturday, police said.

Chief Inspector Baltazar Mamaril, chief of the Public Information Office (PIO) here, identified the victims as York delos Santos, 25, of Cardona, Rizal and Bjorn Baquiran, 24, of Valenzuela, Metro Manila, both members of the Mountaineering Federation of the Philippines.

The report said the victims were passing through the Pasig-Potrero river right after the Apo Mallari Gate on their way to Mt. Pinatubo when swept away by strong currents brought by heavy rains. They were carried away some 200 meters from the area, the report said.

The bodies of the victims were retrieved after 19 hours.

Mamaril said the victims were with 26 other mountaineers when the accident happened. — Ric Sapnu, Ding Cervantes