BREAKING her silence following a harrowing survival story on the country’s highest peak, the hiker who survived a 30-meter plunge on Mt. Apo clarified that she fell after following the photography instructions of an environmental personnel.
The survivor, identified as Glaiza Principe, refuted early media and emergency reports claiming she recklessly stepped onto dangerous terrain before falling at the mountain’s notorious White Sand area on Saturday, May 30.
Principe clarified that she and her group were resting and eating near the trail after a successful summit run when a Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) personnel directed her toward a protruding ledge.
“The personnel told me to sit on the protruding rock to pose for a photo,” Principe stated, noting that she complied under the assumption that the staff member was an expert on trail safety. “I trusted them because I believed they knew which spots were safe.”
The rock formation suddenly gave way under her weight, sending her tumbling down a steep 30-meter cliff.
Local porters and mountain guides were the first to scramble down the ridge to secure Principe and administer initial aid.
A massive joint rescue operation quickly followed, pulling together elements from the Digos City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO), the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) Special Rescue Force, and the Sta. Cruz Municipal DRRMO to execute a grueling overnight evacuation down the mountain.
Principe was safely admitted to the Digos Doctors Hospital at 12:45 AM on Sunday, May 31, where attending physicians listed her in stable condition.
She has since formally contacted the Digos CDRRMO to amend the official incident report to reflect her statement.
Tour operator condemns ‘fake news’
As details of the accident swirled online, accredited tour operator Explore Mt. Apo Travel and Tours issued a sharp rebuke against netizens spreading unverified and speculative accounts of the incident.
In an official statement, the agency condemned the spread of false narratives on social media, warning that unsubstantiated rumors have inflicted unnecessary emotional distress on Principe, her family, and the rescue teams.
“The proliferation of misinformation and speculation only breeds confusion and anxiety,” the statement read. “We urge the public to halt the sharing of unverified posts, respect the privacy and well-being of the hiker, and rely solely on official updates from verified authorities.”
The agency also extended its gratitude to the local mountaineering community and emergency units whose rapid, coordinated response prevented a deeper tragedy.
Local environment officials have yet to issue a statement regarding the allegations surrounding the personnel’s involvement in the incident.
