BY DOMINIQUE GABRIEL BAÑAGA
BACOLOD City – A 29-year-old man in Talisay City, Negros Occidental climbed a santol tree and perched on the branches for 17 hours before he was convinced to go down.
A misunderstanding with his wife may have driven Monico Noquiana, 29, to climb the tree in Barangay Zone-12 around 5 p.m. on Saturday, said police. The woman allegedly took their children and left Noquiana.
Policemen and rescuers from the Talisay City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office rushed to the area after receiving a report that a man made a scene by a climbing a tree.
They tried to rescue Noquiana but the latter further climbed to a higher portion of the tree.
Rescue operation was initially hampered by the rains and the tree’s slippery trunk and branches.
Authorities set up a rescue net around the tree in case Noquiana loses grip and falls down.
As darkness came, police brought in Noquiana’s parents and relatives who also tried to convince him to come down.
After an hours-long negotiation, Noquiana finally decided to go down from the tree at around 8:30 a.m. on Sunday.
Based on a separate information given by barangay officials, Noquiana was suffering from depression.
Officers of the Talisay City police station took him in custody./PN
