BROADCAST journalist Emil Sumangil confirmed on Thursday, May 15, the death of his cousin, engineer and mountaineer Philipp “PJ” Santiago II, during an expedition on Mount Everest.
In an Instagram post, the “24 Oras” anchor shared photos of Santiago and asked for prayers for the eternal repose of his cousin’s soul.
Santiago, 45, was a member of the Mountaineering Association of Krishnanagar–Snowy Everest Expedition 2025.
According to a report by The Himalayan Times, Santiago died at Camp IV while preparing for the summit push.
As of this writing, the cause of death has not been confirmed. Members of the expedition are working to retrieve his body and bring it down to base camp.
Sumangil had earlier appealed to his followers on the night of May 14 to pray for Santiago, hoping he would reach the summit safely. Mount Everest, the highest mountain in the world, sits on the border between Nepal and China.