13 of 36 tourists, boatmen rescued in Laguna

(Update 3 - 1:27 a.m.) Laguna police have rescued 13 of the 36 foreign and local tourists and boatmen who were trapped in a cave at El Pueblo Salvador Resort in Cavinti, Laguna, near Pagsanjan Falls. Police said the incident happened after the Pagsanjan River overflowed due to heavy rains. At 1:20 a.m., Wednesday, radio dzBB said authorities have already rescued 13 people that included a family of Koreans, two Japanese and two boatmen. Laguna Police Officer 1 Rolando Narvadez told GMANews.TV that 18 tourists, mostly Koreans, were trapped inside the "Demon Cave" between 4 and 5 p.m., Tuesday, after the Pagsanjan River overflowed due to heavy rains. A separate dzBB report said 18 boatmen, who accompanied the tourists, were also trapped in the cave. DzBB said among those who were trapped were identified by the Philippine National Red Cross as Aileen Oño, Satoshi Oño and boatmen Garino Encero and Philip Labalesi, who were brought to the Bonanza Resort. The first five individuals that were rescued were brought to the Pagsanjan Garden Resort, dzBB said. The First Infantry Battalion of the Philippine Army and the Red Cross helped Laguna police in their rescue operations, the report said. - GMANews.TV