Trekker slips, falls off ravine in Argao

A young man, who was with his friends for a trek, fell off a cliff in sitio Paninggaan, barangay Conalom, Argao town last Saturday afternoon.

John Paul del Mar of Escaño Subdivision, barangay Mabolo, this city, went with his friends for an adventure trek in Argao when he accidentally fell off from a 60-foot ravine.

Earlier, del Mar’s group proceeded to a hilly part of barangay Conalom and decided to visit a popular cave called “Balay sa Agta”. 

The said cave is already an established tourist attraction in the place most especially when sightings of unidentified flying objects or animals made it to a magazine show of a Manila-based television station.

After visiting the said cave, the group decided to head off to Bugasok Falls for a refreshing dip.

Del Mar was said to be walking behind his companions, in a single file as the road to the area is slippery and steep, when he accidentally slid off the trail and landed on the rocky base of the cliff.

“Nabuak gyod ang ulo sa biktima,” PO1 Von Tecson of the Argao Police told The FREEMAN.

Aside from broken bones, the victim also suffered fatal wounds.

Barangay officials of Conalom facilitated the operations to retrieve the body of the victim. It was already taken to his residence in Mabolo.

The police also disclosed that the victim and his friends failed to coordinate with authorities of the municipality. Had the trekkers only observed the correct and proper procedure, they could have been given a tour guide.

Del Mar’s companions were identified as Mark Castillo, 25, of barangay Banilad; Cyril Besavilla, 25, of Paknaan in Mandaue City; Dennis Tapere, also 25 years old, with  Charles Oropesa and Maximillian Ceniza, both 21, of Cabancalan, Mandaue City, and 23-year-old Claire Elizondo of Pit-os, barangay Talamban.

Argao policemen said they are certain that no foul play was involved in the incident. — Joy Kareen T. Saliente/MEEV