Climber missing on Mt. Banahaw

CAMP VICENTE LIM, Laguna, Philippines – A 27-year-old female mountaineer was reported missing after she and her friends climbed Mt. Banahaw in Quezon province last Friday.

Niña Gacutan, a call center agent, of Barangay Dapitan, Quiapo, Manila, was reported missing by her companions – Artemio Lago, 27; and Noel Ong, 42, both of Las Piñas City.

Lago and Ong told officers of the Dolores police station that they climbed the crater of Mt. Banahaw on Friday together with their guide, Roberto Viaro, and stayed there until Sunday morning. They said Gacutan went missing on their way down.

Quezon provincial disaster risk reduction and management council (PDRRMC) chief Henry Buzar said they dispatched a team to look for Gacutan.

 The Dolores municipal environment office said the climbers entered a protected area declared a no-entry zone since 2004. – Arnell Ozaeta, Michelle Zoleta