Bulacan pastor dies in 125-foot deep pit
SAN ILDEFONSO, Bulacan – Repeated attempts to retrieve the body of a born-again pastor, who allegedly was on a treasure hunt, failed more than 24 hours after he fell into a 125-foot deep pit in Barangay Pala-pala here.
The victim was identified as Arnel David, 41, a pastor of Lord’s
Ranny Magno, fire department chief of the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority who arrived Tuesday night to assist in the retrieval operation, said it would take them more time to get David’s body.
He said their equipment were no match in the 125-foot deep pit allegedly dug for treasure hunting way back in 2003.
Magno’s team used an air support and air ventilator as they tried to lower one of their members down the pit to retrieve the pastor’s body, but failed.
Magno said it was the most difficult retrieval operation they have encountered due to the depth of the pit, narrow passageway and lack of air.
Other teams from the local fire department and provincial disaster coordinating office also failed in their attempts Tuesday afternoon.
Aldrin Marade, 22, a resident of Barangay Pala-pala, said David came to his house on Tuesday morning and invited him to come to the churchyard.
Marade quoted the pastor as saying that they would do something that would bring them money.
Upon reaching the churchyard, Marade said David went down the pit, but minutes later, rushed back toward the surface.
“Bigla na lang siyang nagkikisay at nahulog sa hukay (His body suddenly shook and he fell into the pit),” he recalled.
Marade said he tried to go down the pit to help David but he immediately went up, as there was no air below.
Residents said the pit was dug in early 2003 allegedly to get gold bars buried underground, but David stopped the digging last year.
Some locals alleged that gold bars were indeed discovered in the pit. – With Ric Sapnu
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