Vloggers who climbed Mt. Mayon amid ban face probe, sanctions

A group of vloggers who hiked Mayon Volcano despite the strict ban on activities inside its danger zone are facing possible sanctions.

The Albay Provincial Public Safety and Emergency Management Office (APSEMO) said the group violated Provincial Ordinance No. 2016-23, which fines violators for P5,000.

“This is a violation sa pagpasok nila sa perimeter zone kasi Alert Level 1 pa tayo sa Mayon,” said APSEMO Head Cedric Daep in GMA Regional TV Balitang Bicolandia’s Cris Novelo’s report on 24 Oras Thursday.

(Their entry into the perimeter zone is a violation because we are still under Alert Level 1.)

“Ang impact na ginawa nila dyan, insulto yan sa probinsya, kaya pag ininsulto ang probinsiya, insulto lahat ng Albayanos dahil sa ginawa nila. But yung ginawa nila na alam nilang bawal, pumasok pa rin sila,” Daep said.

(They insulted the province with what they did, they insulted the whole Albayanos. They knew what they were doing was prohibited but still they went on with it.)

The vloggers did not secure proper permits for the hike, the provincial government said, adding they are now identifying the members of the group and the route they took.

“Makuha lang namin ang pangalan, pwede namin silang ma red tag po sa NBI, para po halimbawa kung kukuha ng clearance yan, hindi sila makakakuha po ng NBI clearance, said Albay Provincial Tourism Office Head Dorothy Colle.

(As soon as we get their names we can red tag them to the NBI so they can no longer get NBI clearances, for example.)

Authorities are also trying to identify the local tour guide of the group.

“At kung may mga tour guide pa dun, mga mountaineer na tumulong din na mga local sana po makuha rin namin yung mga detalye para ‘wag nang pamarisan. So I’m also asking the help of every agencies concern also para tulungan kami para managot po itong mga tao na ‘to,” said DOT-V Regional Director Herbie Aguas.

(If they had a tour guide, we also need their details.  I’m asking the help of every concerned agency to help us to hold these people accountable.)

Meanwhile, the Bicol Police said the vloggers may be sanctioned. 

“We will not condone yung mga violation na ganyan if there is ordinance violated, of course we will file a case,” said PNP Bicol Regional Director Police Brigadier General Andre Dizon.

(We will not condone these kinds of violations. If the ordinance was violated, of course, we will file a case.)

GMA Integrated News sought comment from the vloggers but they have yet to respond to our request.—Sundy Locus/RF, GMA Integrated News