Mountaineer Dale Abenojar back in RP

Mountaineer Dale Abenojar, who earlier claimed that he was the first Filipino to reach the summit of Mount Everest, arrived Sunday at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA), GMANews.TV learned. Abenojar walked with a crutch on one arm and the support of his wife on another. He was nursing his left big toe after suffering from frostbite during his climb at the world’s highest mountain. He told GMA News that he was satisfied with his assault on Everest and that he's glad to be finally back in the country with his family. Taking the local mountaineering community by surprise, Abenojar earlier claimed to possess pictures and documentary evidence from Nepal to show that he summited Everest on May 15 this year. If his claim is indeed true, then Abenojar scaled Everest two days before Leo Oracion reached the summit on May 17. Pastour Emata, a teammate of Oracion at the First Philippine Mt. Everest Expedition (FPMEE), climbed to the mountain's peak on May 18, while Romi Garduce achieved the same feat on May 19. Former Transportation Undersecretary Arturo Valdez, FPMEE team leader, earlier expressed doubts that the summit photos Abenojar presented were authentic. Valdez said it was impossible for Abenojar to be alone in a picture at Everest's summit.-GMANews.TV See more stories about Filipino climbers on Everest