14-year-old boy dies in search of rare orchids
WHEN ACCIDENTS HAPPEN…
IN search of rare orchids in a forested area in Barangay Malabobo, Mangatarem, a 14-year-old boy died when a heavy tree branch hit him on the head and fell from a tree.
Mayor Ramil Ventenilla identified the fatality as John Michael Unay, a resident of the barangay.
Unay was with 3 other unidentified teens aged 17, 19, and 20, when they were reported missing by the barangay chief to the police on February 23 early evening.
Unay and the three decided to venture deep into the steep terrain and dense forest of Barangay Malabobo, Mangatarem in search of more rare orchids after they sold one variety for P10,000.
After he was alerted, Mayor Ventenilla immediately formed a search and rescue team late Tuesday evening and traced the path to the forest.
“Madilim ang daan, malalaki ang bato, may ilang ilog pang dinaanan at matarik ang lugar,” said Ventenilla.
The search party returned that late afternoon the following day with the three boys and Unay’s lifeless body. The three survivors were immediately sent to the hospital for treatment.
Ventenilla said the three survivors admitted that they decided to walk deeper into the forest in the hope of finding another orchid that could sell for another P10,000.
The boys said Unay was up on the tree when a branch broke and hit him on the head then fell.
Ventenilla said the three who had to deal with stress, hunger and the death of a friend would require some counselling to overcome their truama.
The forest which the youths entered is part of the 4,422.8-hectare Mangatarem Critical Habitat – recently declared by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR). It cuts across eight barangays.
The DENR declared the site this February as protected, as some endangered flora and fauna are found there. (Ahikam Pasion)
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