Trespassing pilgrims face charges after rescue from Mt. Banahaw fire

Six pilgrims rescued from a widespread forest fire in Mt. Banahaw admitted to slipping into the protected area despite a government ban.

Frank Alpapara, the leader of Hiwaga ng Banahaw Inc., said his group could not wait for Department of the Environment and Natural Resources to approve a request to go into Mt. Banahaw. 

Because of their actions, the pilgrims will be charged for violating Republic Act 9847, or the Mts. Banahaw - San Cristobal Protected Landscape Act.

The law closes off 11 hectares of the mountain until 2015 to allow it to recover from damage caused by visiting pilgrims. Violators of the ban can face a fine of from P5,000 to P500,000 and imprisonment of from one year to six years for their offense.

"Pa-filan pa lang po mamaya ng inquest dahil pumasok sila sa protected area sa Mt. Banahaw... Nakuhanan na po ng affidavit yung rescuers, kasi yung rescuers ang magte-testify sa area kung saan sila natagpuan," said Police Senior Inspector Madonna Abang, Sariaya deputy chief of police.

Five pilgrims who were rescued earlier this week will not be charged because they were found outside the protected area, the report said.

Although Alpapara admitted to continuing his group's yearly pilgrimage, he denied their prayer offerings caused the blaze.

"Nagtirik po ng kandila, pero hindi po naman pakay namin ay sunugin yung mahal na bundok kasi mahal namin yan po," said Alpapara.

Authorities have yet to determine what caused the forest fire, which started Wednesday and razed around 50 hectares of forest on Banahaw before it was put out on Thursday. The fire also affected 92 hectares of plantation on Mt. San Cristobal in San Pablo, Laguna.



The pilgrims, who had been missing for five days, were pale from hunger but were otherwise unhurt, rescuers said.

DENR Secretary Ramon Paje said the government may extend the ban indefinitely because of the fire. — Rie Takumi/JDS, GMA News