Samahan sa Ikauunlad ng Kapaligiran, Pamayanan at Kabundukan
IMPORTANT ADVISORY RE: LA COBRA MOUNTAINEERS
We have received disturbing information concerning the La Cobra
Mountaineers, specifically a Jun Pereno AKA Angkol, and one identified only
as Ernie.
The reported incident happened in Mt. Ramelo in Famy, Siniloan, Laguna on June 18-19, 2005. The victims were members of another group, the Metropolitan Mountaineering Society, whose rappel lines were apparently sabotaged by the suspects.
It seems that La Cobra and this person were also involved in a recent incident in Mt. Halcon, which, unfortunately, we are not aware of.
We do not have confirmation of this or prior incidents from persons or groups known directly to us. Before this, the only direct information that the club had about this group had to do with their lack of climb discipline and a propensity to indulge in hard drinks in camp. Both practices are common enough in the local climbing community, and both are incompatible with the SB culture.
Nevertheless, the alleged incident is disturbing enough for us to issue this climb advisory.
This is not a blanket advisory against participation in any activity organized by La Cobra Mountaineers. However, members and friends are advised to be cautious when with the group or when climbing or camping in the vicinity where the group is present. Be especially alert when 'Angkol' is around, and when the group indulges in drinking alcoholic beverages. If you must err, err on the side of safety.
Please pass on to the officers of the club information personally known to you which would correct or confirm the negative information about this group and the individuals involved.
****
Notes/FYI
* Info was passed on to RFC by Lani Magday with the series of correspondences included.
* I have included below the initial report, but have deleted the series of exchanges about the matter in the interest of brevity. If you have already received the same information, just ignore what follows.
> ----- Original Message -----
> Sent: Wednesday, June 29, 2005 1:13 PM
> Subject: FAMY Incident (June18-19)
>
> FYI and for your group personal assessment...
>
> akamug trekkers wrote:
> i thik LA COBRA shud xlain this. I remember a story posted here in halcon incident.
> la cobra wid JUN PERENO was among d trouble makers there right?
>
>
> --- John Paul Cruz <...> wrote:
> Sent: Monday, June 20, 2005 4:22 PM
> To: philippine_mountaineers@yahoogroups.com
> Subject: BABALA SA LAHAT NG MOUNTAINEERS
>
> Mga Sir & Mam,
>
> itong pong experience namin ay fresh na fresh pa samin...it happened
> June 18-19, at Mt. Romelo(famy). we were a group of
> 18 persons, 11 males & 7 females, 7 first timer sa rapelly, 4 first
> time mountaneer, 4 rapelly professionals, our plan is to leave home
> as early as we can so we can have plenty of time to explore sampaloc
> falls and to setup repelly system at buruisan falls. but due to time
> delays, we decided not to follow to the plan which is sampaloc falls
> first then trek to buruisan falls to setup camp.
>
> at the jumpoff we were properly advised that there were no BSDO
> or "Brgy. Tanod" around to keep our safety. we finally reach the
> campsite around 10:00 am, and we found out that there are very few
> mountaineers at the campsite, only 10 tents, 6 sa taas, 4-5 sa baba
> ng falls. After pitching our tents, we then rush at the fall's cliff
> to set an anchor for our repelly ropes. there we met 2 other
> mountaneers "Erni & Angkol" who have already setup
> their own rapelly ropes and system.
>
> This two mountaineers have gone rapelling already and are already
> drunk. ung isa tulog na sa bato malapit sa bangin! after the usual
> mountaineers' greeting, we set our ropes anchoring 3 ropes to 2 big
> trees near the falls. then we decided to cook our lunch and eat.
>
> afterwards, 5 girls and 2 guys from our group decided to bathe down
> to buruisan, on their way down Erni greeted them saying "Mam, sir wag
> na kayo dyan bumaba magrapel nalang kayo ti-nesting ko na yung tali
> nyo". Because most of them are beginners & first time rapeler, hindi
> nalang nila pinansin. The rest of our group is either sleeping or
> kasama naming nagkukwentuhan. Suddenly one of our companion rush to
> us saying "Boss, ung tali natin ubos na!" We then grabbed our knifes
> and hurry to see our ropes. Nung una mukhang ok naman pero ung isang
> tali ung anchor nya sa puno ay ginilitan para pag may nagrapel
> mapuputol yung tali. Yung panglawang rope, sa bandang gitna ung gilit
> para pag naka-kalahati ka na ng rapel ay dun palang mapuputol ung
> rope. Then my friend who is the owner of the ropes decided to be cool
> not ruin our expedition. In short, pinabayaan nalang namin at
> niligpit nalang namin yung mga ropes.
>
> Night comes, and the drinking session started. As we greet other
> mountaineers nalaman namin na halos lahat ng mountaineers ay binastos
> nila "Erni at Angkol". One group said, "Niyayaya nga kami magrapel,
> sabi ni Angkol "Sir, mag-rapel kayo para masira na buhay nyo!"". Yung
> isa pang grupo sabi, "Ayaw nila magpadaan sa harap ng tent nila nang
> hindi tumatagay sa kanila, hindi kami tumagay kaya ang sama ng tingin sa amin".
>
> As a defensive move, yung ibang mountaineers na badtrip na din ay
> naki-join sa aming inuman para manahimik na itong si Erni at Angkol
> na ngayoy nambabastos na ng mga babaeng dadaan sa tent nila, at
> masaya din naman yung pack namin dahil may gitara, flute at
> percussion kaming bitbit. Now we found ourselves as a pack of 3
> mountaineering groups of more than 30 persons.
> Suddenly, tumahimik ang kantahan nagkatinginan ang lahat. Amoy
> marijuana! Lahat ay nakatingin sa lugar nila Erni at Angkol na
> nagiinuman din. Since lahat ng katabi naming tents ay grumupo na sa
> amin alam na agad namin na sa kanila galing iyon. Kinausap ko yung
> tangero namin na babaan na yung tagay at yung maiinit na guys ay kung
> maari ay wag muna patagayin. afterwards, nangmakita naming naka-light
> off na cla Erni at Angkol isa-isa nang natulog at nagbalikan sa
> tent, pero sa a security may mga maiiwang gising na magbabatay.
> The next thing i know ay ginigising nila ako na parang emergency na,
> pagtingin ko sa relo ay isang oras palang akong nakakatulog almost
> 2:00 am. Nakita ng isang kasamahan namin na pa-gapang na lumalapit si
> Angkol sa isang tent at may hawak na patalim, kaya dali-dali silang
> kumuha ng flashlight at naggising ng mga mountaineers. Nang makita
> nilang tumatakbo ay hinabol nila at kinuyog. Nang magising si tatay
> (ung nagtitinda malapit sa falls) ay inawat nya at pinapasok sa
> tindahan si Angkol. Ngayon ay si Erni naman ang aming kinukumpronta
> pero sa nahinahon na paraan na ngunit siya'y nagsasa-walang alam.
> Nang hanapin namin muli si Angkol ay nalaman naming nakatakas na ito.
>
> Si Erni naman ay binantayan na namin at isinabay namin pababa. Sa
> jumpoff dun namin venerify ang kanilang registration name ngunit
> ito'y alyas lang din at hindi full name. Nang may iba pang
> mountaineer sa bumaba (galing sa sampaloc falls) at nakita si Erni ay
> sinabi niya si Erni pala ay miyembro ng "LA COBRA MOUNTAINEERS" at
> sila'y ban na o black listed sa Halcon at sa iba pang bundok dahil sa
> mga katarantaduhan, pambabastos, vandalism, at kung anu-ano pang
> ugali na hindi nararapat sa isang mountaineer. As our final move,
> dinala namin si Erni sa Siniloan Police Station kung saan kami ay
> magsampa ng "Attempted Murder" na kaso kasama si Angkol. Doon ngayo'y
> nalaman namin na Richard ang pangalan ni Erni at ang nakatakas na si
> Angkol na "Jun Pereno" pala.
>
> Ngunit nakawala pa din si Angkol at si Erni naman ay pinalaya din
> dahil kailangan pa ng hearing sa kaso upang makulong at ito'y aming hindi pababayaan.
>
> Mga Sir & Mam anu tingin nyo? Dapat siguro may I.D. na hinahanap sa
> jumpoff? BSDO sa campsite? O talagang kailangang may
> dala tayong pang self defense sa backpack?
>