By Glazyl Y. Masculino
BACOLOD City – Authorities on Sunday rescued a man who climbed up a 40-foot santol tree and stayed there for 16 hours at Barangay Zone 12-A, Talisay City, Negros Occidental.
Corporal Michael Tembrevilla, investigator of Talisay City Police Station, withheld the name of the 29-year-old man.
Tembrevilla said the man went to his cousin’s house around 5 pm Saturday to hide after he alleged that some unidentified men were out to kill him.
Instead of going inside his cousin’s house, the man climbed the tree and did not go down, he added.
His cousin asked assistance from the authorities to lead the negotiation but he still refused to go down as he feared for his safety, Tembrevilla said.
Police, rescuers, and firemen stayed until nighttime to ensure his safety.
Tembrevilla said the man had not slept or eaten for two days after having an argument with his partner.
“Nagbulagay na na sila abi sang iya partner,” he added.
The man decided to go down around 9 am Sunday through the assistance of the village chief, who gave him P500.
Tembrevilla said it was the second time that it happened, but the family claimed that the man had no history of trauma.
The man was rescued safely. He was unharmed and is now in the custody of his mother.
