A television reporter reporting on the condition of Taal Volcano suddenly became the center of attention when he was trapped in its crater.
A radio report quoted Lt. Commander Troy Cornelio, chief of the Philippine Coast Guard-Batangas, as identifying the TV reporter as Joshua Garcia of the Global News Network (GNN).
Cornelio said Garcia and his crew sought his office’s permission at about 10 a.m. to trek through communities in the vicinity of the volcano to check up on Barangay Tabla and interview its residents.
The Coast Guard official granted the TV crew's request. The Coast guard chief, however, was unaware that Garcia was planning to go further into the volcano.
Authorities said Garcia later descended into the volcano's crater, but could not climb back up due to the crater's steepness.
Alerted, Coast Guard officials rushed to the crater and carried out a rescue operation.
Five hours later, an exhausted Garcia emerged from the crater with only minor scratches.
Territorial jurisdiction of the island volcano is shared by the towns of Talisay and San Nicolas, both in Batangas province.
The GNN is a Philippines-based news and information channel operated by Global Destiny Cable.—Mark D. Merueñas/JV,
