19 stranded Eastern Samar residents rescued in Laguna

BORONGAN, Philippines — Nineteen residents of Eastern Samar, who decided to return to the province by foot after they were evicted by their landlords in Malabon, were rescued in Laguna on Saturday.

Gov. Ben Evardone sent a rescue team for his constituents, some of them children and persons with disabilities, who were stranded in Metro Manila.

The group loaded their belongings on pushcarts that served as their shelter during bad weather and bed at night.

They said some people they met along the way gave them food and money.

A photo of them walking along the streets went viral on social media and attracted the attention of the provincial government.

By that time, they had already walked more than 150 kilometers from their point of origin and had reached Cabuyao town in Laguna.

Evardone, through the local government of Cabuyao, informed his constituents to stay in the city and wait for the ambulances that would pick them up.

The ambulances arrived on Saturday and took the group to a quarantine facility in Borongan.

After completing the quarantine, the group will be sent home to their respective municipalities.