'Sect' members may face raps for Banahaw fire

MANILA, Philippines — Authorities are investigating so-called members of a religious sect believed to have lit candles that sparked the forest fire near the crater of Mount Banahaw in Quezon province Wednesday night.

Five pilgrims from the Hiwaga ng Bundok Banahaw Inc. have been rescued from the incident as of Friday morning, two days after the 18-hour fire razed portion of the mountain on Wednesday night. Six others including a 7-year-old girl remain missing.

Banahaw Forest Ranger Magtanggol Baryon claimed that the pilgrims illegally entered the protected part of the mountain for their yearly ritual, violating Republic Act 9847 which penalizes those who cause forest fires.

Depending on the damage from the fire, law prescribes four months to 20 years imprisonment for those proven guilty of the violation.

"Suspect na sila kasi wala silang authority pumunta doon. Kung authorized sila dapat may kasama silang guide. Kasi yung area na 'yon ay puro talahib," Baryon said in an ABS-CBN interview aired Thursday night.

Protected Area and Management Board official Sally Pangan also believes the forest fire was man-made.

"'Pag na determine na ilang araw sila nag-stay doon, baka may probable cause na sila yung grupo na nag-cause nung fire incidents na nangyari sa Banahaw," Pangan said.

The Department of Environmental and Natural Resources estimated the damaged area to be around 50 hectares.

Local authorities are still conducting search and rescue operations for the six missing members of the group.