Mc Richard Paglicawan
A brokenhearted camper seeking solace in nature ended up being punched by a campsite staff member after shouting his frustrations at a mountain campsite in Tanay, Rizal.
The incident, which was caught on video and went viral, has sparked online debate about whether the reaction of the staffer was justified.
The victim, identified as Dawn Cuenzo Salmo, 32, and his friends were camping at Rainbow 89 Ecopark Camping and Trekking when the incident occurred in the early morning of February 10, 2025.
Salmo, who was dealing with a breakup, admitted to being emotional and slightly intoxicated when he shouted out profanities toward the mountain to vent his frustrations.
In the viral video, a campsite staff member approached their tent, telling them to leave:
“Sige, labas! Labas lahat. Uwi!”
Salmo responded: “Sumigaw lang po kami sa bundok.”
However, the staffer accused him of directing his curses at someone in the area.
“Mali, mali… nagmumura ka eh,” the staffer insisted.
Confused, Salmo asked: “Sino pong minumura ko?”
The staffer, visibly upset, replied: “Pu***** sinong minumura mo rito?”**
Salmo clarified: “Yung bundok.”
Despite his explanation, the staffer suddenly punched Salmo in the face, which shocked his companions.
In a follow-up interview with ‘Frontline Pilipinas’, Salmo explained that his shouting was not directed at anyone but was simply a way to cope with his emotions.
“Broken-hearted po kasi talaga ako. May boyfriend po ako tapos stressed din po ako sa buhay. Ang daming problema, ang daming iniisip.”
Salmo, who suffered a cut on his face and a bleeding tooth, later reported the staff member to the police.
“Broken na ako, lalo pa akong na-broken. Para akong na-double kill,” he quipped.
The management of Rainbow 89 Ecopark issued a statement apologizing for the incident and confirming that the staff member involved had been arrested.
“Kami po ay humihingi ng paumanhin sa nangyaring insidente. Sa kasalukuyan, nakakulong na po ang staff na sangkot at under investigation ang pangyayari.”
According to Tanay Police Chief Lt. Col. Norman Cas-oy, the staffer claimed he acted out of concern for other campers, workers, and families sleeping nearby when he confronted Salmo.
“Umagang-umaga ‘yun, more or less 6 a.m.. May natutulog pa na ibang guests at katrabaho niya. Ayaw niyang maistorbo sila,” said Cas-oy.
The staffer is now facing charges of slight physical injury.
The video has sparked mixed reactions online, with many netizens siding with Salmo, saying that violence was an overreaction. However, others defended the staffer, noting that shouting in a quiet campsite early in the morning could have disturbed others.
Salmo has vowed to pursue legal action against the staffer, while the campsite management assured the public that the incident does not reflect their entire team and that they are taking measures to prevent similar cases in the future.
The case remains under investigation.
