Missing Mountaineer Adrian Alba Found Dead

25-year-old mountaineer Adrian Alba was found dead near a hanging bridge on Wednesday morning, three days after he was swept away by strong river current of the Wawa Dam in Rodriguez, Rizal.

According to news reports, a boy saw an arm dangling near the banks of the river some 45-minute walk from the Wawa Dam. A group of barangay tanod, who was there to help in the search and retrieval operations, identified the lifeless body as that of the missing mountaineer's.

Search and rescue teams had been on the move since Adrian was reported missing last Sunday, September 4, 2011. He was doing a rope-assisted river crossing with a 22-member team when he allegedly got swept away by the current. Adrian was reportedly with the mountaineering group Outdoor Addicts. He was the group's guest climber that day.

To everyone's dismay, though, no one among the 21 other mountaineers Adrian was with that Sunday has come out to give a full statement of what has transpired.

The team reportedly paid a "gate pass" at the town's barangay office but skipped registering at the tourism office which would have required a guide to assist them in their activities. The tourism office is also responsible for allowing or rejecting any activities at the Pamitinan Landscape - which the Wawa River is a part of - depending on how strong the current of the river is.

Sir Adjhong, as he is fondly called by his mountaineer friends, has died doing what he loved. His remains lie in state at his residence located at Block 61, Lot 3, Mabolo St. Barangay Rizal, Makati City (near Market Market, Global City). For additional information, you may contact his sister, Ms. Faith Alba at the numbers 0920.223.7469 and (02) 903-0851.

My deepest condolences go out to Sir Adrian Alba's family and relatives. May his soul rest in peace.