ARAYAT -- Authorities accosted 10 persons believed to be involved in treasure hunting activities in Barangay San Juan Baño at Mt. Arayat last Sunday.

Superintendent Luisito Magnaye, outgoing Arayat chief of police, identified the suspected treasure hunters as Domingo Garcia, 42, of Barangay San Nicolas; Jaycee Napoles, 31, Arman Gallardo, 26, Clarito Gillongo, 30, Niko Tobesa, 18, Nestor and Narciso, 48, all of Barangay Mesulo; Ogelio Cajucom, 36, Garry Galudes, 30, and Ener Guevarra, 51, of San Nicolas village; and one alias Giony, of legal age, a native of Nueva Ecija province.

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Magnaye said that based on the sworn statement of Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) employees Amador Bernardo and Jose Mallari, they received a "tip" at 7 a.m. Sunday from a concerned citizen who said that a huge hole was discovered and several equipment used in digging at the foot of the mountain near the Delta dam were found.

He said the two DENR employees immediately informed the police, soldiers belonging to the 703rd Infantry Brigade, and barangay chairman Jesus Delos Santos who rushed to the digging site and confiscated three shovels, roll cable wiring, two electric flashlights, a water pump machine, a gas stove, gas tank, plastic jar, chain block, kitchen utensils, one can of biscuit, plastic can with gasoline, assorted can goods, bolo, nylon rope, plastic hose, small chain block and assorted clothes.

Magnaye said the suspected treasure hunters, who were at the digging site, were accosted by authorities and were brought to the police station here for questioning.

He said initial investigation revealed that Garcia is the alleged financier of the group.

Mayor Luisito Espino has urged the DENR and police to file appropriate charges against the suspected treasure hunters, saying that Mt. Arayat is a natural and historical landmark that must be preserved and protected.

Espino said the Municipal Government of Arayat will be coordinating with the police, DENR and other concerned agencies to study the filing of appropriate charges against the suspected treasure hunters.

"Ang pinagtataka ko ay bakit noong November 1 ay naroon ang mga taong ito. Ano ang ginagawa nila roon e hindi naman sila taga San Juan Baño? Tapos may mga nakuha pang mga kagamitan na ginagamit sa paghuhukay, maliban sa malalim na hukay na natuklasan ng mga taga DENR at pulis," Espino said.

A Sun.Star Pampanga source who requested anonymity said treasure hunters believe that gold bars had been buried in the fabled mountain by soldiers of the Japanese Imperial Army led by General Tomoyuki Yamashita before the end of World War II.

At the height of Typhoon Ondoy last September 27, a mudslide occurred at the foot of Mt. Arayat in Barangay San Juan Baño, where 12 people, mostly women and children, were buried alive. Some 50 houses were destroyed and some 2,000 individuals were displaced. (Chris Navarro)