PNP vows protection as 2 Masungi Georeserve forest rangers shot

The Philippine National Police (PNP) vowed on Monday to protect forest rangers after two Masungi Georeserve rangers were shot and badly wounded.

In a statement, PNP chief Police General Guillermo Eleazar said training programs would be created for forest rangers in light of the incident.

He added that he already ordered a thorough investigation into the incident.

“Hindi ito ang unang insidente ng pananakot, pananakit at pagpatay sa mga forest ranger dahil ilang mga kaparehong kaso din ang naitala ng inyong kapulisan sa Palawan at iba pang lugar sa mga nakalipas na taon,” he said.

(This is not the first time for forest rangers to be threatened, assaulted, and killed because we have received similar reports in Palawan and other areas in the previous years)

The Masungi Georeserve Foundation earlier asked for police protection after the killings.

According to the foundation, two of their forest rangers stationed at a reforestation site in Sitio San Roque, Barangay Pinugay in Baras, Rizal were shot.

“One ranger was shot in the head and the other was shot in the neck. They are now being treated with first aid and are preparing to transfer to another hospital,” it said in a statement on Sunday.

“We are devastated and enraged by this heinous act of violence and attempted murder against forest defenders.”

The Masungi Georeserve claimed that they have been receiving various threats, and were being intimidated and harassed by “disgruntled violators” for the past few months.

The matter had been reported to authorities.

“We beg for immediate security assistance and action against land grabbers, professional squatters, and illegal encroachers inside the Upper Marikina Watershed,” said the foundation.

“We are disturbed that this atrocity could happen in an area where a Special Action Forces station is just around the corner.”

The Masungi Georeserve recalled that the GSB resort and entities illegally occupying forest land were recently closed, with recommendations made for the government to file charges against them.

“This incident was at our reforestation sites under the Masungi Geopark Project, located in the watershed and degraded lands surrounding the Masungi Georeserve,” it added. — DVM, GMA News