2 Masungi forest rangers hurt during attack by alleged locals

Two forest rangers of the Masungi Georeserve were hurt after alleged residents of Sitio San Roque in Baras, Rizal attacked them.

According to Maki Pulido's report on "24 Oras" on Tuesday, the mob ganged up and attacked seven forest rangers, accusing them of carrying firearms.

Two rangers were injured and taken to hospital.

"Lumalapit po sila, dumadami, nagsisigawan, nagkasuntukan na po. Sila po nauna. Nagkahiwalay po kami kasi nagkatulakan na po," one of the rangers said.

(They came up to us, a lot of them, yelling. Punches were thrown. They started it. We got separated because there was a lot of shoving.)

Masungi, meanwhile, condemned the attack on their park rangers.

"Masyado na pong sunod-sunod. Hindi lang po 'to environmental crime lang.' We're talking about violence to people, safety issues," Masungi Georeserve board of trustee member Ann Dumaliang said.

(It's been one after the other. It isn't just about environmental crime. We're talking about violence to people, safety issues.)

Baras, Rizal Police said they are investigating the matter.

"They were outnumbered 'yong pulis na nagresponde sa atin is tatlo po at ang naggulo sa kanila is more or less 50 to 60 persons," Police Captain Raymund Osea said.

Ortega added that they would investigate the matter further, build a case, and file charges against those behind the attack. — DVM, GMA News/Ma. Angelica Garcia